Gianmaria Testa
On Thursday, November 3 at 7 pm, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents the Chicago debut of Italian singer-songwriter Gianmaria Testa. The concert takes place in the Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street. Admission is free.

Gianmaria’s warm, dusky voice tells stories of wind and memories, earth and fog, objects that soar from one horizon to another and ladies in train stations (“Donne nelle stazioni”) who head off on someone else’s arm without looking back. His music is personal and richly melodic, flecked with accents of tango, bossa nova, habañera and jazz, but as spare and essential as a pencil sketch, imparting great beauty with simplicity and directness. Gianmaria, who has performed in some of Italy’s most prestigious theaters, has produced five unique albums. To date, his fourth album has reached platinum status, and his latest album is garnering positive attention in New York.

Dulce Pontes
On Tuesday, November 8 at 7 pm, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents the Chicago debut of Dulce Pontes, the international singing star, who has sung with the likes of Andrea Bocelli and José Carreras. The concert, which takes place in the Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street, features an eclectic mix of rock and fado as well as unusual instruments. Pontes is joined by Davide Zaccaria, cello, Paulo Feiteira, guitar, Amadeu Magalhães, braguesa guitar, and Fernando Silva, fado guitar. Admission is free.

Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar Performs Traditional Indian Music
On Wednesday, November 9 at 7 pm, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Chicago’s India Classical Music Society present a free concert by Indian musician Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, who represents the twentieth consecutive generation of Dhrupad musicians from the Dagarvani tradition. The concert, which takes place in the Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street, features Dhrupad music, one of the oldest forms of Indian classical music. This is Dagar’s only Chicago appearance on his current US tour. Admission is free.

For more information about this program and future Chicago Cultural Center Presents programs, please call 312.744.6630 or visit www.chicagoculturalcenter.org