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Silvia Infantas
Silvia Infantas
	Infantas in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Sylvia Elvira Infantas Soto
Born	14 June 1923; Santiago, Chile
Died	19 June 2024 (aged 101); Santiago, Chile
Genres	Folk, tonada
Occupation(s)	Singer, actress, folklorist
Years active	1942–2024

Sylvia Elvira Infantas Soto^[1] (14 June 1923 – 19 June 2024) was a Chilean singer, actress, and folklorist.

Early years

Infantas was born in Santiago in 1923. She was the daughter of Tenor and Jorge Infantas, and grew up in the El Almendral neighborhood of Valparaíso.

Singing career

She began her singing career in 1942, performing on various radio stations. She was chosen as the best "melodic singer" of 1943 by Radiomanía magazine and eventually became recognised for her performances of Chilean folk music leading the groups "Silvia Infantas y los Baqueanos" (1953–1959) and "Silvia Infantas y los Cóndores" (1960–1969).^[1] In 1962, she participated in the third annual Viña del Mar International Song Festival; her performance of "El loro aguafiestas" (with backing from Los Cóndores) won the first place in the competition.

Infantas was a central figure in Chilean folk music from 1942 to 1970. She made international tours of Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, West Germany and Panama. She also made tours in Los Baqueanos between 1953 and 1959 and Los Cóndores between 1960 and 1969.

In 1955, composer Vicente Bianchi presented his musical interpretation on Pablo Neruda's poems "Tonadas de Manuel Rodríguez", "Canto a Bernardo O'Higgins" and "Romance de los Carreras". These works were recorded and popularized by Infantas and Los Baqueanos. Their recording of Música para la Historia de Chile has been recognized as an outstanding contribution to the culture of Chile.

Acting career

Infantas also developed a career as an actress at the Teatro de Ensayo de la Universidad Católica (TEUC) between 1946 and 1952 acting in plays such as El gran farante, El tiempo y los Conway, Contigo en la soledad, El cid, El burlador de Sevilla, Invitación al castillo, Pygmalion, El senador más honorable, La pérgola de las flores, and La anunciación a María. For the latter, she won the Caupolicán Award for "best actress" in 1950.^[1] She also acted in the 1968 film Ayúdeme usted compadre.^[2]

Death

Infantas turned 100 on 14 June 2023, and died in Santiago, on 19 June 2024, at the age of 101.^[3]

Awards and honors

In 2009 she was named "Figura Fundamental de la Música Chilena" by the "Sociedad Chilena del Derecho de Autor" (SCD).^[4] In 2015, she was awarded the President of the Republic National Music Award in the category "Folk Music". She received the award from President Michelle Bachelet at age 92 in an official ceremony at the La Moneda Palace.^[5]

In March 2019, in the context of the commemoration of Women's History Month, a biography titled "Silvia Infantas, voz y melodía de Chile" was published; it was written by music journalist David Ponce.