In
the heart of downtown Buenos Aires, music and ballet pay tribute to
the city. The Colón Theater decks the City of Buenos Aires and
invites us to a must-go event.
Buenos
Aires' Treasure. From
the area delimited by Tucuman St., Libertad St., Arturo Toscanini
Alley, and Cerrito St., stands out one of the most valuable piece of
jewelry of the City—the Colón Theater.
Considered
one of the five most important theaters in the world for its
acoustic, the Colón Theater is a must-see when visiting Buenos
Aires. Its imposing architecture, history, beauty, and the
outstanding quality of its performances turn this theater into an
emblematic symbol of Argentine culture.
A
Bit of History. In
1889, the mayor of Buenos Aires City, Torcuato de Alvear, took the
initiative and released a request for tender for the construction of
the theater. Immediately after, the Italian opera musician and
businessman, Angelo Ferrari, wins with his proposal and, together
with architect and fellow countryman Francesco Tamburini, they began
working on the project. Since the latter died in 1890, Vittorio Meano
continued with his work, introducing significant changes. In 1904,
his Belgian disciple Jules Dormal took over as the project director
and it was him who completed the interior finishes and exquisite
ornamentation. After almost twenty years of construction, the
building opened on May 25, 1908 with the opera Aída
by Giuseppe Verdi.
An
Architectonic Piece of Jewelery. Its
design harmonically combines very different styles—the Greek attic
that stands out in the facade, the Italian Renaissance, the varied
ornamentation of French architecture, and the strength and layout
which are characteristic of the German art. Regarding its size, the
building covers 8,200 m² and it has a surface of 58,000 m².
The hall can seat 2,487 people divided into seven levels. Located
around the hall, stand the foyer, the Golden Hall, the Hall of Busts,
the White Hall and the Museum, which treasures the costumes worn by
some celebrities who performed on its stage. Unlike other theaters in
the world, the Colón Theater has remarkable departments such as the
Superior Art Institute, the Center for Experimental Music, the
library and workshops, where the entire production for the staging of
events is carried out. The theater offers guided tours to experience
the Colón from behind the scenes and get closer to the magic of one
of the most
important stages in the world. For more information about events and
schedules , visit: www.teatrocolon.org.ar
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