As a young classically trained pianist, Arminda Canteros played tangos to satisfy the requests of her father who "could not understand at all that music of Mozart or Brahms". Quickly she developed her own style of playing tangos and acquired a repertory of the genre. As a young professional pianist, while doing weekly classical concerts and chamber music recitals for a radio station in Rosario, Argentina, she was overheard practicing tangos by the director of the radio. On the spot, she was offered a better contract to do a weekly program of tango music. Since tango playing was considered the epitome of "machismo", she had to take a masculine pseudonym, "Juancho" (Big John) for the broadcasts.
Arminda Canteros has been acclaimed by audiences and critics alike for the profound artistry and brilliant virtuosity of her performances throughout South America, the USA, Canada and Europe. Receiving her training from Vincenzo Scaramuzza. Ruwin Erlich and Walter Gieseking, she has been one of the most sought after performers in her native Argentina. Among the highlights of her career have been concerts featuring cycles of all the Mozart Piano Sonatas or all 27 Chopin piano Etudes.
In 1956, at the height of her career, Ms. Canteros was in a near fatal bus accident which left her with a broken spine. Although her doctors predicted that she would never walk or play the piano again, with indomitable courage and determination she made a successful return to the concert stage. then, in 1070, Arminda Canteros settled in New York where she rapidly attracted a large following of gifted pianists eager to study with her.
This track is from the CD "Tangos De La Guardia Vieja & Tangos By Astor Piazzolla" which was recorded by Ms. Canteros in 1989 when she was 78 years old, at the Pollack Concert Hall, McGill University, and is available through McGill Records.
