{{Short description|Chilean singer and actress (1923–2024)}} {{refimprove section|date=June 2024}} {{lead too short|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Silvia Infantas | image = Silvia Infantas (cropped).jpg | caption = Infantas in 2016 | Net Worth = | birth_name = Sylvia Elvira Infantas Soto | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1923|6|14}} | birth_place = [[Santiago]], [[History of Chile during the Parliamentary Era (1891–1925)|Chile]] | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2024|6|19|1923|6|14}} | death_place = Santiago, Chile | origin = | genre = [[Folk music|Folk]], [[tonada]] | occupation = Singer, actress, folklorist | years_active = 1942–2024 }}
'''Sylvia Elvira Infantas Soto'''<ref name=musicapopular>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicapopular.cl/artista/silvia-infantas/|title=Silvia Infantas|work=musicapopular.cl|access-date=March 28, 2016}}</ref> (14 June 1923 – 19 June 2024) was a Chilean singer, actress, and [[Folklore studies|folklorist]].
==Early years== Infantas was born in [[Santiago]] in 1923. She was the daughter of Tenor and Jorge Infantas,{{cn|date=June 2025}} and grew up in the El Almendral neighborhood of [[Valparaíso]].{{cn|date=June 2025}}
==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 [[Music of Chile|Chilean folk music]] leading the groups "Silvia Infantas y los Baqueanos" (1953–1959) and "Silvia Infantas y los Cóndores" (1960–1969).<ref name=musicapopular/> 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.{{cn|date=June 2025}}
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. {{cn|date=June 2025}}
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.{{cn|date=June 2025}}
==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 (play)|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.<ref name=musicapopular/> She also acted in the 1968 film ''[[Ayúdeme usted compadre]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinechile.cl/pelicula-179|title=Ayúdeme Ud. Compadre (1968)|work=cinechile.cl|access-date=March 14, 2015}}</ref>
==Death== Infantas [[Centenarian|turned 100]] in 2023, and died in Santiago, on 19 June 2024, at the age of 101.<ref>[https://www.latercera.com/culto/2024/06/20/muere-a-los-101-anos-silvia-infantas-icono-del-folclor-y-la-musica-chilena/ Muere a los 101 años Silvia Infantas, ícono del folclor y la música chilena] {{in lang|es}}</ref>
==Awards and honors== In 2009 she was named "Figura Fundamental de la Música Chilena" by the "Sociedad Chilena del Derecho de Autor" (SCD).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scd.cl/www/index.php/actividad-cultural/figuras-fundamentales/sylvia-infantas-1923/|title=Sylvia Infantas (1923)|work=scd.cl|date=March 21, 2012|access-date=March 14, 2015}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gob.cl/mandataria-este-premio-chile-expresa-carino-admiracion-reconocimiento-gratitud/|title=Mandataria: "Con este premio, es Chile el que expresa su cariño, su admiración, su reconocimiento y su gratitud"|work=gob.cl|date=March 28, 2016}}</ref>
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]].{{cn|date=June 2025}}
==Discography== === Silvia Infantas y los Baqueanos === * ''Música para la historia de Chile'' (1955) *Tonadas de Manuel Rodríguez (1955) *Romance de los Carrera (1955) *Canto a Bernardo O'Higgins (1956) *La Independencia de Chile (1955) *Chile compañero *A la mar, marinero *Yo vengo de San Rosendo *La refalaita *Sólo al mar *Patitos en la laguna *Carretita Chancha *Consejos por casamiento *Tristeza India *Eternamente *Huaso *Canción del brindis *Huaso ladino *Vamos, corazón *Feliz cumpleaños *Somos los buenos muchachos *La barquilla del amor *Eternamente *Pinceladas del pago *La pena de mi canto *Los lagos de Chile *Al pie de una guitarra *La rosa y el clavel *Arriba las palmas *Echándole el pelo *La amasandera de Quilipín *La chiquilla que baila *Entre mate y mate *Aradito de palo *Allá va mi huaso *Caldito de ave *¡Viva la Cueca! *La blanca azucena *Ramoncito, el camarón *Ja Jai qué linda la Cueca * Yo conocí a una a una morena *Ilusión campesina *El marinero *Así es mi tonada *La Cueca del gorila *Aló aló *Hermanos Lagos *Corazones partidos *El canario *Los finaos *La batelera *El casamiento
=== Silvia Infantas y los Cóndores === * ''Bajando pa' Puerto Aysén'' (1964) * ''Rosita de Cachapoal'' (1964) * ''Cuando baila mi morena. La cueca: su origen, su música, sus estilos'' (1965) * ''¡Con permiso...! Soy la cueca'' (1968) * ''Huaso pintiao'' (196x) * Cantarito de Greda *[[Si vas para Chile]] *La consentida *Racimito de uva negra *En Chillán planté una rosa *Camino de luna *Fiesta del campo *Mis recuerdos *La Juana Rosa *Apología de la cueca *Campanilla de plata *La palomita *La rosa blanca *Los dichos chilenos *Tonadas para la Patria *[[Huasita Regalona]] *Mi guitarra *Campito de mi tierra *Zorzalito *La gitana *Porqué se fue *Tierra chilena *Tiro y tiro y el huaso firme *Los lagos de Chile *Mi casa de campo *Échame el lazo (1964)
=== Solo artist === * ''Héroes y tradiciones'' (1999)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{discogs artist|Silvia Infantas}} * {{imdb name|16279974}}
{{Fundamental figures of Chilean music}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Infantas, Silvia}} [[Category:1923 births]] [[Category:2024 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century Chilean women singers]] [[Category:Women in Latin music]] [[Category:Chilean women centenarians]] [[Category:Musicians from Santiago, Chile]]