Biography
From the beginning of her career as a folk singer, Amelita Baltar stood out with her unique voice and the dramatic intensity she brought to every song she performed.
After releasing her first solo LP in 1968, she won first prize at the Festival Nacional Del Disco in Mar Del Plata. That same year, Astor Piazzolla discovered her and chose her to sing the lead role in the "little opera" Maria De Buenos Aires, which he co-wrote with poet Horacio Ferrer.
The production was recorded and marked the beginning of a long partnership with Piazzolla and Ferrer, who regarded Baltar as the ideal vocalist for a series of compositions that defined the 1970s in Argentine popular music, with the pinnacle being "Balada Para Un Loco."
Baltar and Piazzolla toured Latin America before relocating to Europe. In 1971, she signed contracts with French, Italian, German, and Swiss television networks. They premiered the oratorio "El Pueblo Joven" on German TV, and "Balada para un Loco" was released in France. In 1972, they debuted "La Primera Palabra" at the Onda Nueva festival in Caracas, Venezuela, followed by "Las Ciudades" at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanazinho during the 7th Festival Internacional de la Canción. By the end of 1972, she recorded folk music.
In 1973, Baltar returned to Argentina and, collaborating with Susana Rinaldi and Marikena Monti, created the successful show "Tres Mujeres para el Show."
After 20 performances in Brazil in 1974, she traveled to Europe for several auditions with French and Italian TV. Her first LP was released in Spain, and she performed at Paris's Olympia. Returning to Argentina, she participated in her second film for R.A.I. (the first was in Germany), earning first prize in her singing category. She also performed in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro’s Municipal Theatre, and throughout Argentina.
She received the Palma de Mallorca prize for her rendition of "Los Pájaros Perdidos."
In 1975, she parted ways with Astor Piazzolla and returned to Argentina, giving numerous performances across South America.
In 1977, a new chapter began with her entry into the music hall scene. She starred alongside Jorge Luz in "Cocktail para Tres," which was a major success. In 1978, she recorded traditional tangos in Brazil with arrangements by Mederos and Alchourrón, followed by another LP recording in Italy.
In 1979, she appeared in Ángeles’s "Cocoonote Grove," and the next year, she joined the musical comedy "El Club," marking her theatrical debut as a skilled actress. A few years later, she embraced a new challenge with a Tango-Rock show featuring music by A. Favero, premiering first in São Paulo and soon after in Buenos Aires.
In 1988, Baltar recorded the LP "Como Nunca," which she presented in Argentina and Chile.
In February 1990, she traveled to the Netherlands after being invited by film director A. Agresti to participate in the film "Luba." She performed for six weeks at "Trottoirs de Buenos Aires" in Paris.
Amelita sang at Amsterdam's "Kleine Komedie," Leiden's "Leidse Schouwburg," and appeared on Dutch and Spanish television. In 1991, she participated in the first National Tango Festival of Argentina in Cosquín. In April, she returned to Paris for five concerts at "TLP Dejazet."
She performed at the opening of the 22nd Festival of Photography in Arles, at Brussels’s "Botanique" theatre, and in Bonn, Germany. In November, she gave another performance in Paris.
In 1992, she sang at Buenos Aires’ Teatro General San Martín and the Honorable Consejo Deliberante de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Collaborating with the "Juan de Dios Filiberto" orchestra, she presented the concert "Amelitango" to celebrate her 30-year career at Buenos Aires' Teatro Nacional Cervantes, as well as in Mendoza, San Juan, San Luis, Rosario, and many other Argentine cities.
In 1993, Amelita performed in Buenos Aires, Paris at "New Morning," and at Amsterdam’s "Stadsschouwburg Adam" theatre.
In early 1994, she recorded a CD featuring Piazzolla’s music. In May, she gave two concerts at Paris’s "Auditorium Des Halles," joined by Julio Bocca. Back in Argentina, she performed at Teatro San Martín and Fundación Banco Patricios.
In 1995, she sang at the "Auditorio" in Rosario. In March, she appeared in the play "Por Amor a Arlt" at Buenos Aires' Teatro Alvear. In November, she took part in "Discépolo Y Nosotras" alongside Tania. In April 1996, Baltar performed at Porto Alegre's "O.S.P.A" theatre.
She closed "Astortango," the largest tribute ever held for Piazzolla. In October, she gave two concerts at São Paulo's Hebraica theatre. Two months later, she returned at the invitation of Ballet Stagium to sing in the show "Tangamente," inspired by her career.
The same show was presented in March 1997 at the Teatro Municipal of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Teatro Nacional de Brasília.
In November 1997, she received the Muden prize for her outstanding career at the Congreso de la Nación. Earlier that year, she toured France performing in Toulon, Marseille, Nantes, Le Vésinet, Villebon, and Brussels, Belgium. She sang with the "Orquesta de Tango de Buenos Aires" at Teatro San Martín for the Guadalajara International Book Fair in Mexico.
In March 1998, she toured inner France and rehearsed for the prestigious "Banlieues Blues Festival" in Paris. Upon returning to Argentina, Baltar gave several well-received shows in Buenos Aires and other provinces.
In 1999, marking the 30th anniversary of "Balada para un loco," she released the album "Referencias" with Warner and embarked on a tour that included interior France, Geneva, and Istanbul.
In 2001, she released her latest CD, "Amelita de Todos los Tangos," through Warner Music. To promote it, she toured various Argentine cities and performed at the Maipo Theatre in Buenos Aires. In October, she gave a concert in Los Angeles, USA. Returning to Argentina, she closed the International Music Day celebrations with a grand concert alongside the "Juan de Dios Filiberto Orchestra."
This concert took place in Buenos Aires' Republic Square, next to the iconic Obelisk.
In April 2001, her own TV show, "Amelitango," aired live in Argentina and several Latin American countries. The Buenos Aires Congress recognized the show as being of "Cultural Interest."
In recent years, Amelita Baltar has performed in Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Finland, and Spain. She recently returned from Turkey, where she presented the show "La Diva del Tango," and is currently preparing a new electronic tango CD set to be released in the coming months.
