Teatro Colón
Twenty years and three architects in the building, and ever since, a place singers count among the finest rooms on earth.
At a glance
The Teatro Colón is the main opera house of Buenos Aires and one of the most admired in the world. It opened in 1908 after a construction saga that ran through three architects, Francesco Tamburini, Vittorio Meano and Jules Dormal. Its grand auditorium seats well over two thousand, and its acoustics are ranked among the very best of any concert hall anywhere.
Key facts
- Location: Cerrito 628, Buenos Aires
- Architects: Francesco Tamburini, Vittorio Meano, Jules Dormal
- Opened: 1908
- Style: eclectic (Italian and French Renaissance)
- Renowned for: its acoustics
History
The city began an opera house in 1889 to crown its golden age of wealth, and the work outlived its architects: Tamburini died, Meano was murdered, and the Belgian Dormal brought it to completion. It opened in 1908 with Verdi’s Aida.
For over a century the world’s greatest singers and conductors have performed under its dome. A long restoration finished in 2010, on the centenary of Argentine independence, returned the building to its full splendour.
What you see
The horseshoe auditorium rises in tiers of red and gold under a painted dome, lit by a great chandelier. Marble staircases, stained glass and a French Renaissance foyer set the scene before the curtain. The acoustics owe much to the mix of hard and soft surfaces, plaster, wood and fabric, that the builders tuned by ear.
Practical information
- Open: performances and guided tours
- Cost: tours and tickets priced by event
- Best for: the auditorium, the dome and the foyer
- Time needed: 1 hour with a tour
Getting there
The theatre faces Plaza Lavalle in central Buenos Aires, on Avenida 9 de Julio, with the Teatro Colón subte (metro) station at its door.
Nearby
- Obelisco — the city’s landmark on 9 de Julio
- Avenida de Mayo — the grand avenue toward the Casa Rosada
Sources
- Encyclopædia Britannica / Wikipedia — Teatro Colón
- Teatro Colón — official history
- Wikimedia Commons — image source and licence
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