Prepare to be awed by Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires

Renowned for both its aesthetics and acoustics, the Teatro Colón is considered one of the top opera houses in the world alongside La Scala in Milan, the Royal Opera House in London and Opera Garnier in Paris. A stunning architectural building on the outside, it is equally as impressive inside. 

Opt to take a guided tour of this masterpiece (book ahead as the English tours sell out quickly), which will give you insight into the rich history and background of the place and its elaborate design. And if you are fortunate to nab tickets to a performance, you’ll be in for a treat as the acoustics will blow you away no matter where your seats are located. Pavarotti himself famously commented that the acoustics were so perfect here that it made him nervous to perform because any mistake was amplified.

Designed by Francesco Tamburini, Victor Meano and Jules Dormal, the Teatro Colón took twenty years to build. It opened in 1908 and went on to host some of the most important conductors, singers and dancers, including the likes of Igor Stravinsky, Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Richard Strauss and Rudolf Nureyev. 

A guided tour provides background about the history and architecture of the theater, photo by Debbie Stone

Sculptures adorn the theater, photo by Debbie Stone

Stained glass panel, photo by Debbie Stone

You’ll learn there’s an air of intrigue and a few secrets lurking around the founding of the theater. Italian architect Francesco Tamburini, the initial architect, who laid the first stone of the building in 1890, died unexpectedly a year later. His partner Victor Meano took over, but he had his own issues after being caught in a love triangle with his valet. He was then murdered by his servant in his own home in 1904.

At this point, the project was losing money, which prompted the state to inject more cash into it and put a third architect, Jules Dormal, a Belgian, at its helm. Two decades later, the theater was finally completed. When it opened, it wowed the crowds with the inaugural performance of Verdi’s opera, “Aida.” Since then, it has gone on to hold countless famed operas, ballets and classical music acts.

Flash forward to 2006 when the Teatro Colón closed for repairs and renovations, reopening in 2010, in time for Argentina’s bicentennial. Originally, the project was supposed to take only two years, but worker strikes and protests, along with budget issues, delayed its reopening. 

Bustos Gallery

Golden Hall, photo by Debbie Stone

Grand entrance foyer, photo by Debbie Stone

The theater is a whopping seven stories high and covers an entire block. Its architectural style is eclectic with a meld of Italian and French influences, due to the different architects involved in its design. On the tour, you’ll go through the foyer, the Bustos Gallery of sculptures, the Golden Hall and the Main Hall.

The grand foyer is the entrance to the theater and it’s lined with marble, including a striking marble staircase and French stained-glass windows. At the foot of the staircase, which leads up to the Main Hall, are two hand-carved lion heads.

The Bustos Gallery contains the Hall of Busts. Sculptural figures of famous composers can be seen on the ledges, including Beethoven, Bizet, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, Rossini, Bellini and Gounod.

The Golden Hall, where chamber concerts and lectures are held, sports enormous columns and mirrors, like those you might see at the Palace of Versailles. The stained glass ceiling is a work of art, along with the stained glass panel depicting Penelope (wife of Odysseus) keeping her suitors at bay. The decorative windows, carved pillars, gold trim and chandelier complete this marvelous space.

Ornately decorated Main Hall, photo by Debbie Stone

View of the foyer, photo by Debbie Stone

The Main Hall is the piece de resistance. Richly decorated, it’s shaped like an elongated horseshoe and boasts almost 2500 seats (stuffed with horsehair) and standing room for 500 spectators within its seven tiers. It’s hard to miss the ginormous chandelier, weighing a staggering five tons, which casts light upon the gold and crimson colors of the seats, carpets, curtains and trim. Once a year, the chandelier is lowered to be cleaned. Above the chandelier is a secret platform that musicians may use when performing.

The chandelier also draws your eyes to the ceiling, which was painted by Argentine artist Raul Soldi. Your guide will tell you that the characters it depicts, such as mimes, dancers, actors and musicians, are of the “Commedia dell’ Arte.” Known as “Italian comedy,” these were humorous theatrical presentations performed by actors on makeshift stages or streets, who traveled in troupes throughout Italy back in the 15th and 16th centuries. The actors represented a host of colorful characters and used improvised dialogue. 

Teatro Colón was declared an historic monument by the Argentine government in 1989 and is one of the top highlights of Buenos Aires.

www.teatrocolon.org.ar/guided-tours

Teatro Colon, photo by Debbie Stone