The Opera Houses of Rio & Brazil

“One of my great delights, wherever I go, is seeking out historic theatres. I found several treasures in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Buenos Aires, and Argentina. Among them, are two grand turn-of-the-century Opera Houses – Rio’s Teatro Municipal and Buenos Aires’s Teatro Colon” –  Lowell Angell

Rio’s Teatro Municipal

Built in eclectic architectural style, it was constructed over a foundation of 1,180 hardwood poles and is the result of a blend of two different projects: one from engineer Francisco de Oliveira Passos and another from French architect Albert Guilbert. The construction work started in 1905 and lasted for four years and a half.

Works by prominent artists at the time, such as Eliseu Visconti, Rodolfo Amoedo and the  Bernardelli brothers adorn the theater. Stained glass windows and mosaics were produced by European artisans hired especially for the construction.

The marble staircases and onyx balustrade welcomed, at first, foreign performance companies and orchestras, notably Italian and French.

If you are planning a trip to Rio and Marechal Floriano Square,  the Teatro Municipal offers daily tours Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Buenos Aires’s Teatro (Colón Theatre)

The Colón operated in its first venue from 1857 until 1888, after which the building was closed for the construction of a new house. The new improved house opened on May 25th 1908 with a performance of Aïda.

In the beginning, the theatre recruited opera companies from other countries, but as of 1925 it has had its own permanent companies (orchestra, ballet and choir) and its own production workshops, which have allowed the theatre to organize its own seasons since the 1930s, funded by the city budget. Since then, the Colón renewed its repertoire annually or by stagione, and has been able to set up whole productions on its own because of the professionalism of its specialized stagecraft staff.

Colón Theatre Buenos Aires is one of the most important opera houses in the world. Its rich and prestigious history and its exceptional acoustics and architectural features rank it among theatres such as Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Paris Opera House, the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

If you find this story fascinating, we have a treasure trove of information about the history of your favorite theatres.  Sign up for an account on historictheatres.org and enter through the STAGE DOOR!

For nearly fifty years Theatre Historical Society of America has been celebrating, documenting, and promoting the architectural, cultural, and social relevance of America’s historic theaters. However, we can’t do it alone.  Support from cinema lovers, architects, historians and people like you are paramount to our success.  Become a member today, and help us preserve the rich history of America’s greatest theatres.

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