Argentina santos biography
Argentina Santos – I Don’t Know If I Sing Or If I Pray
28 February, 2010 to 30 April, 2010
On February 27th 2010, the Fado Museum opened to the public the temporary exhibition “Argentina Santos – I Don’t Know If I Sing Or If I Pray”, in the presence of the Mayor of Lisbon, Dr. António Costa. In this session, where the fans and friends of Argentina Santos met, Fado was presented by the voices of Carlos do Carmo, Ricardo Ribeiro e Ana Sofia Varela.
The most remote memories of Maria Argentina Pinto dos Santos, born on February 6, 1924, still linger in Mouraria. Her fado has the strength of a street cry and the restraint of a prayer. This popular song combines – in perfect symbiosis – both human and artistic authenticity. The fado by Argentina Santos is fearless and knows neither excuses nor bonds. It is real. With her eyes shut and her praying hands, Argentina’s voice also tells us the fado of a “life that has been lived”. For our utmost fascination in the voice of Argentina Santos we can nowadays listen to the most deep-rooted fado traditions.
For decades Argentina Santos refused any media exposure and most part of her artistic career was confined to Parreirinha de Alfama. And on doing so she also turned her restaurant into a true fado workshop, a set of affections and stage for creative complicity for poets, musicians and fadistas. Through Parreirinha de Alfama passed the voices of Lucília do Carmo, Alfredo Marceneiro, Maria da Fé, Fernanda Maria, Mariana Silva, Natércia da Conceição, Natalina Bizarro, Helena Tavares, Leonor Santos, Beatriz da Conceição, Flora Pereira, Júlio Peres among many others.
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Argentina Santos
Portuguese singer (1924–2019)
Argentina Santos | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 February 1924 Lisbon |
| Died | 18 November 2019 (2019-11-19) (aged 95) |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Occupation | Fado singer |
Argentina Santos or Maria Argentina Pinto dos Santos (6 February 1924 – 18 November 2019) was a Portuguese singer considered one of the last great Fado singers.
Life
Santos was born in the Mouraria area of Lisbon in 1924. She started school but left so quickly that she was illiterate and had to learn reading and writing much later. She was interested in singing but married twice and neither of her husbands approved of her singing in public. It was only after her second husband died that she was able to regain her career and her singing became popular.
In 1950 she took charge of the Lisbon restaurant "Parreirinha de Alfama" which became a centre for Fado playing.
In 1995 she began to appear on Portuguese television and the following year she was performing on Brazilian TV. She appeared in several European cities including appearing at the Edinburgh Festival.
In 2005 she was given an award in Lisbon for her singing.
In 2013 she was given an award (Infant D Henrique) by the Portuguese government.
She died in Lisbon's Santa Maria Hospital in 2019.
References
Argentina Santos
Maria Argentina Pinto dos Santos (Lisboa, 6 de febrero de 1924-Ib., 18 de noviembre de 2019), más conocida como Argentina Santos, fue una cantante portuguesa considerada una de las últimas grandes cantantes de fado.
Biografía
[editar]Santos nació en el área de Mouraria de Lisboa en 1924. Comenzó la escuela pero se fue tan rápido que era analfabeta y tuvo que aprender a leer y escribir mucho más tarde. Estaba interesada en cantar pero se casó dos veces y ninguno de sus esposos aprobó su canto en público. Fue solo después de la muerte de su segundo esposo que ella pudo recuperar su carrera y su canto se hizo popular.
En 1950 se hizo cargo del restaurante de Lisboa "Parreirinha de Alfama", que se convirtió en un centro para tocar el fado.
En 1995 comenzó a aparecer en la televisión portuguesa y al año siguiente se presentó en la televisión brasileña. Apareció en varias ciudades europeas, incluida su aparición en el Festival de Edimburgo.
En 2005 recibió un premio en Lisboa por su canto.
En 2013 recibió el premio (Infant D Henrique) del gobierno portugués.
Murió en el Hospital Santa Maria de Lisboa en 2019.