Early career

Amparo Iturbi was born in Valencia, Spain, the younger sister of José Iturbi

José Iturbi

José Iturbi was a Spanish conductor, harpsichordist and pianist. He appeared in several Hollywood films of the 1940s, notably playing himself in the 1943 musical, Thousands Cheer and in the 1945 film, Anchors Aweigh...

. She gave her debut concert at the age of 15 in Barcelona

Barcelona

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...

. In 1925, she gave her first important concert outside of Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

. She played in Paris, at the Salle Gaveau. This was followed by dual piano recitals with Jose, touring Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

, Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

, Holland, and England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. She also accompanied the famous Catalan soprano Maria Barrientos

Maria Barrientos

Maria Barrientos was a Spanish opera singer, a light coloratura soprano, one of the most eminent sopranos of her time.- Life and career :...

. It was not until 1937 she first played in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

She had one daughter, also named Amparo, by a brief marriage. The younger Amparo led an internationally renowned flamenco troupe and taught dance. Iturbi's grandson, Robert O'Sullivan, lives in Beverly Hills.

She was the pioneer of the Spanish piano repertoire in the US until the arrival of Alicia de Larrocha in 1965

Film career

Amparo had guest roles, playing herself, alongside her brother in the following MGM musicals:

• Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)
• Holiday in Mexico (1946)
• Three Daring Daughters (1948)
• That Midnight Kiss (1949)

She also was on the soundtrack of Three Daring Daughters

Three Daring Daughters

Three Daring Daughters is a 1948 musical film made by MGM, and directed by Fred M. Wilcox. The screenplay was written by Albert Mannheimer, Frederick Kohner, Sonya Levien and John Meehan.-Plot:...

(1948). Seemingly always in her brother's shadow, Amparo Iturbi only appeared in films long enough to play the piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 with her brother.

Known for their twin piano-playing, the pair also appeared on the Jimmy Durante

Jimmy Durante

James Francis "Jimmy" Durante was an American singer, pianist, comedian and actor. His distinctive clipped gravelly speech, comic language butchery, jazz-influenced songs, and large nose helped make him one of America's most familiar and popular personalities of the 1920s through the 1970s...

 Show in 1955 and on The Bell Telephone Hour

The Bell Telephone Hour

The Bell Telephone Hour is a long-run concert series which began April 29, 1940 on NBC Radio and was heard on NBC until June 30, 1958. Sponsored by Bell Telephone, it showcased the best in classical and Broadway music, reaching eight to nine million listeners each week. It continued on television...

in 1962. There were many recordings released as a duo and singly. A CD 'Celebrated Artistry-Mozart/Jose & Amparo Iturbi, was released in 1999.

Honorary Scholarships

• At California State University
  California State University
  The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
  
   in Fresnohttp://studentaffairs.csufresno.edu/scholarships/arts_humanities.htm, CA, a special scholarship is available in Amparo Iturbi's name. "Awarded in honor of the distinguished concert pianist, Dame Amparo Iturbi, the scholarship, awarded annually, or as deemed appropriate is available to junior, senior or graduate students majoring in Piano."

• Jose Iturbi established a scholarship fund in memory of his sister, for music majors, particularly those specializing in the piano
  Piano
  The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
  
   at Loyola Marymount University
  Loyola Marymount University
  Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
  
  .

Death

Amparo Iturbi died on April 22, 1969 in Beverly Hills, CA of a brain tumor

Brain tumor

A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...

.