Colón theatre

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Teatro Colón

The "Teatro Colón" (Colón Theatre) is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. The present theatre, the second with the same name, opened in 1908 after twenty years under construction. It has 2,367 seats and standing room for 1,000 spectators.

It is located on "9 de Julio" Avenue, in the heart of Buenos Aires, although the main entrance is on the opposit street, the "Calle Libertad" (Liberty street).

Colon theatre interior

Prior to the construction of the current Teatro Colón, opera performances were given in several theatres, of which the first "Teatro Colón" and the "Teatro de la Ópera" were most important. The principal company that performed at the Teatro de la Ópera moved to the Teatro Colón in 1908. However, important companies also performed at the "Teatro Politeama" and the "Teatro Coliseo" which opened in 1907. In many seasons, the Teatro Colón was the first stop on an extended tour of South America.
 

The cornerstone of the present Teatro Colón was laid in 1889 under the direction of architect Francesco Tamburini and his pupil, Angelo Ferrari, who designed a modern theatre in the Italian style on a scale and with amenities which matched those in Europe. However, due to local arguments regarding location and other factors, construction dragged on for twenty years before the house was completed by Julio Dormal in 1908. In the intervening years, Tamburini died and Ferrari was assassinated, thus complicating the process.