Page 80 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

78  BUENOS AIRES AREA B Y AREA

y Teatro Colón

Undoubtedly the most elegant edifice on the west side of
Avenida 9 de Julio, Teatro Colón is the city’s main lyric theater
and a world-class center for classical music, ballet, and opera.
Work began on the theater in 1880 and it opened its doors
in 1908 with a performance of Italian composer Giuseppe
Verdi’s Aida. A succession of architects were invol ved in the
Colón’s evolution and they employed a pan-European
approach to the building’s architecture. Many great artists,
from Greek opera singer Maria Callas to German composer
Richard Strauss, have performed here. The opulence of the View of the Teatro Colón entrance on
refurbished building combined with fabulous perfor mances Calle Cerrito
makes this the capital’s top cultural attraction.

Rehearsal Rooms
The many rehearsal spaces inclu de
Sala 9 de Julio, which has the
same dimensions as the main
stage. There is also a mirror-
walled room used by the
corps de ballet.

Costumes and sets are
manufactured in base ment work-
shops. There are also studios that
make shoes and upholstery.

. Main Hall
The grand hall houses three floors of boxes
and accommodates about 3,000 people.
The acous tics, mod eled after French and
Italian opera houses, are world famous.

For hotels and restaurants in this area see p278 and p288

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