Considered one of the world’s best opera houses, Teatro Colón stands before us. Its history is rich with drama, music, and architectural grandeur. The Teatro Colón replaced an earlier theater. The original Teatro Colón opened in 1857. By the late 19th century, a new theater was clearly needed. It took 20 years to build. Finally, the present Teatro Colón opened on May 25 1908. The inaugural performance was Verdi’s Aïda.
Many famous singers and opera companies have graced its stage. They often traveled to other South American cities. These included Montevideo Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. After a golden age, the theater began to decline. Massive renovations were planned. The Teatro Colón closed for refurbishment from 2006 to 2010. It reopened on May 24 2010, with a special season. In 1991, the Teatro Colón was declared a National Historic Monument.
The Teatro Colón has occupied two sites. The first was in Plaza de Mayo. The second is in front of Plaza Lavalle. This location was once Park Station. It was the first railway station of Argentina. Throughout its history, opera, classical music and ballet stars have performed here. Arturo Toscanini and Maria Callas are among them. Argentine artists like Alberto Ginastera also performed here. Even popular artists like Chris Cornell have played here recently.
Key moments include creating stable companies in the 1920s. Municipalization occurred in 1931. Peronism promoted popular music in 1946. This policy was reversed in 1955. It resumed again with democracy in 1983. A full restoration took place from 2006 to 2010. It reopened for Argentina’s Bicentennial.
Charles Pellegrini designed the first Teatro Colón. It held over 2500 seats. It even featured a gallery for people in mourning. The opening was in 1857. Verdi’s La Traviata was performed. The theater closed in 1888. This made way for the new building. Economic crises delayed its completion.
Before the current Teatro Colón, opera was performed in other theaters. The Teatro Opera was also important. The Teatro Coliseo also hosted major companies.
The Teatro Colón is bordered by major streets. These are 9 de Julio Avenue, Libertad Street, and Tucumán Street. It stands on the site of the former Plaza Parque station. The auditorium is horseshoe-shaped. It seats 2487 people. There is standing room for 1000 more. The stage is 20 meters wide and deep. The building has six floors above ground and three below. It features seven elevators. A large chandelier hangs with 700 light bulbs. Francesco Tamburini was the original architect. Julio Dormal completed it after Tamburini’s death. The acoustics are considered among the world’s best. Luciano Pavarotti agreed.
The present Teatro Colón opened on May 25 1908. Aïda inaugurated the opening. Seventeen operas were performed in the first season. Stars like Titta Ruffo performed. Francesco Tamburini laid the cornerstone in 1889. Vittorio Meano continued the design. Delays arose from financial issues and deaths. Julio Dormal completed the building in 1908. He added French-style decorations. Luigi Trinchero created the bas-reliefs on the facade.
Anarchists bombed the Teatro Colón in 1910. Georges Clemenceau witnessed the attack. Despite the horror, society women attended the next day’s performance. Ballet stars like Lida Martinoli also graced the stage.
The interior features scarlet and gold decor. Raúl Soldi painted the cupola in 1966. A major refurbishment occurred from 2005 to 2010. The Teatro Colón suffered from political and economic issues. The renovation cost over 100 million dollars. The reopening was on May 24 2010. Swan Lake and La bohème were performed. The International Olympic Committee held its session here in 2013.
The Colón Theatre has specialized production workshops. These workshops allow for preparation of all the necessary elements for staging a show. This means that the majority of the curtains, stage designs and costumes are made in the same building.