Known professionally as Antônio Meneses, he won the first prize and gold medal at the 1982 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.

[2] Meneses recorded Brahms' Double Concerto for violin and cello with Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Herbert von Karajan for Deutsche Grammophon in 1983.

[27] In July 1997, Meneses recorded the three concertos by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach with the Munich Chamber Orchestra.

He recorded Haydn's Cello Concertos and Clóvis Pereira [pt]'s Concertino with the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

A CD of Elgar's Cello Concerto with the orchestra conducted by Claudio Cruz was nominated for a Grammy Award.

[2][7] He celebrated his 60th birthday by recording a CD of classical and Brazilian popular music with pianist André Mehmari in 2017.

[2][7] A reviewer of the 2023 recording described his music-making as "very sensitive and always lively", expressive even in low register in spite of the dense texture of the compositions.

While he never lived in Brazil again after leaving the country to study in Europe, he returned regularly for visits and playing chamber music with friends.

[6] In June 2024, Meneses was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme and announced his immediate withdrawal from all his concert engagements and teaching positions.