The Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires is the second theatre of that name: the first, designed by Charles Pellegrini, opened in 1857 with Verdi's La traviata and closed in 1888. The cornerstone of the present building facing Plaza Lavalle was laid in 1889; after the death of Francesco Tamburini and the murder of his pupil Vittorio Meano, the Belgian architect Julio Dormal completed it. It was inaugurated on 25 May 1908 with Verdi's Aida. The horseshoe-shaped auditorium has 2,487 seats and standing room for about 1,000; Raúl Soldi painted the cupola in 1966. In a survey by acoustician Leo Beranek it was rated the best hall in the world for opera acoustics. After a major restoration it reopened in 2010. It is home to the house orchestra, chorus and ballet and to the Buenos Aires Philharmonic.
The Teatro Colón Buenos Aires is among the five acoustically best opera houses in the world — the magnificent hall with over 2,500 seats was opened in 1908 after 18 years of construction.
At a glance
- Type
- Opera house
- Location
- Buenos Aires, Argentina