Amparo Iturbi facts for kids
Amparo Iturbi Báguena (born March 12, 1898 – died April 22, 1969) was a famous Spanish pianist. She was known for her amazing piano playing and often performed with her older brother, José Iturbi.
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Early Life and Music
Amparo Iturbi was born in Valencia, Spain. She was the younger sister of José Iturbi, who was also a very famous musician.
Amparo started her music career early. She played her first concert when she was just 15 years old in Barcelona. In 1925, she performed her first big concert outside Spain in Paris, at the Salle Gaveau.
After this, she often played piano concerts with her brother, José. They toured many countries together, including Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and England. She also played music for the famous Spanish singer Maria Barrientos. Amparo first performed in the United States in 1937.
Amparo Iturbi was one of the first pianists to play Spanish piano music in the U.S. She helped make this type of music popular there.
Film and TV Appearances
Amparo Iturbi appeared in several movies, playing herself alongside her brother. These were musicals made by MGM:
- Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)
- Holiday in Mexico (1946)
- Three Daring Daughters (1948)
- That Midnight Kiss (1949)
She was also part of the music for Three Daring Daughters (1948). In films, Amparo usually appeared just long enough to play the piano with her brother. They were famous for playing twin pianos together.
The brother and sister also appeared on TV shows. They were on The Jimmy Durante Show in 1955 and The Bell Telephone Hour in 1962. They released many music recordings together and separately. A CD called "Celebrated Artistry-Mozart/José & Ámparo Iturbi" was released in 1999.
Special Honors
In 1958, Spain gave Amparo Iturbi a special honor. She was named a Dame of the Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. This is a very important award.
Scholarships in Her Name
After Amparo Iturbi passed away, scholarships were created to remember her.
- At California State University (Fresno), there is a scholarship in her name.
- Her brother, José Iturbi, started a scholarship fund at Loyola Marymount University. This scholarship helps music students, especially those who study piano.
Piano Teacher
In the early 1960s, Amparo Iturbi taught piano lessons to some students at her home in Beverly Hills. Her students often called her "Madame Iturbi."
She had a special way of teaching piano. She wanted students to keep their fingers ready, like little hammers, to strike the keys. It was important to keep the arm muscles relaxed while playing. She would gently touch a student's arm to feel for any tension and help them relax.
Madame Iturbi was known for her fun personality and loved to tell stories. This made her lessons very interesting. She sometimes held piano concerts at her home for her more advanced students, and her brother would sometimes come to watch.
She charged $25 per hour for lessons in the early 1960s. But she was also very kind. She offered a "scholarship" to good students, giving them one free lesson for every paid one. Her students loved her very much.
Death
Amparo Iturbi passed away on April 22, 1969, in Beverly Hills, California. She was 71 years old and died from a brain tumor.
See also
In Spanish: Amparo Iturbi para niños
