Teatro Opera
Encyclopedia
The Teatro Opera is a prominent cinema and theatre house in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
, then a narrow street along Buenos Aires' northern outskirts, and premiered with a performance of Giuseppe Verdi
's Il Trovatore
. Specializing in musical
s, the theatre was an early success and enjoyed a reputation of being among the most technically advanced at the time, becoming the first in Latin America to possess in-house generators, for instance.
The massive widening of Corrientes Street led to the theatre's demolition in 1935, however, following which the Petalardo family sold the establishment to Clemente Lococo, who had the Opera Theatre rebuilt. Designed by Belgian Argentine architect Albert Bourdon and reinaugurated in 1936, the new Opera Theatre was an Art Deco
, multi-purpose house, hosting both stage performances and film with a capacity for 2,500 spectators. The Corrientes Avenue landmark also hosted regular Tango
concerts led by stars including Hugo del Carril
and Edmundo Rivero
, as well as international performances such as the Folies Bergères and Ella Fitzgerald
's and Louis Armstrong
's during their days as a touring duo in the 1950s. The theatre also hosted bandoneon
ist Ástor Piazzolla
's last, live performance in Argentina, in June 1989.
Economic instability and changing public tastes led to the theatre's decline during the 1990s and in 1996, its proprietors considered selling the building to parking structure developers. Public outcry and activism on the part of National Theatre
Director Lito Cruz
led to the passage of a National Theatre Law providing subsidies to struggling performance houses, as well as protecting them from demolition. The Opera Theatre was remodeled in 1998 and currently seats 1,852 spectators.
Postcards (c. 1910) depicting the original Opera Theatre
Overview
The Opera Theatre was developed in 1871 by Antonio Petalardo, a local businessman who foresaw a need for popular theatre catering to the city's booming population in subsequent years. The original Beaux-Arts style theatre was opened in 1872 on what today is Corrientes AvenueCorrientes Avenue
Avenida Corrientes is one of the principal thoroughfares of the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. The street is intimately tied to the tango and the porteño sense of identity...
, then a narrow street along Buenos Aires' northern outskirts, and premiered with a performance of Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
's Il Trovatore
Il trovatore
Il trovatore is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play El Trovador by Antonio García Gutiérrez. Cammarano died in mid-1852 before completing the libretto...
. Specializing in musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
s, the theatre was an early success and enjoyed a reputation of being among the most technically advanced at the time, becoming the first in Latin America to possess in-house generators, for instance.
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
, multi-purpose house, hosting both stage performances and film with a capacity for 2,500 spectators. The Corrientes Avenue landmark also hosted regular Tango
Argentine Tango
Argentine tango is a musical genre of simple quadruple metre and binary musical form, and the social dance that accompanies it. Its lyrics and music are marked by nostalgia, expressed through melodic instruments including the bandoneon. Originated at the ending of the 19th century in the suburbs of...
concerts led by stars including Hugo del Carril
Hugo del Carril
Pierre Bruno Hugo Fontana otherwise known as Hugo del Carril was an Argentine film actor, film director and tango singer of the classic era.-Early life:...
and Edmundo Rivero
Edmundo Rivero
Leonel Edmundo Rivero was an Argentine tango singer, composer, and impresario.-Early days:Rivero was born in the southern Buenos Aires suburb of Valentín Alsina. Joining his father in some of his travels, he was exposed to the lifestyle and the music of the gauchos of Buenos Aires Province from...
, as well as international performances such as the Folies Bergères and Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
's and Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
's during their days as a touring duo in the 1950s. The theatre also hosted bandoneon
Bandoneón
The bandoneón is a type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina and Uruguay. It plays an essential role in the orquesta típica, the tango orchestra...
ist Ástor Piazzolla
Ástor Piazzolla
Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player. His oeuvre revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music...
's last, live performance in Argentina, in June 1989.
Economic instability and changing public tastes led to the theatre's decline during the 1990s and in 1996, its proprietors considered selling the building to parking structure developers. Public outcry and activism on the part of National Theatre
Cervantes Theatre (Buenos Aires)
The Cervantes National Theatre in Buenos Aires is the national stage and comedy theatre of Argentina.-History:The Cervantes Theatre of Buenos Aires owes its existence, in part, to the 1897 relocation to Argentina of Spanish theatre producer María Guerrero and her company, who popularized...
Director Lito Cruz
Lito Cruz
Lito Cruz is a prominent Argentine stage director and motion picture actor.-Life and work:Lito was born Oscar Alberto Cruz in the working-class La Plata suburb of Berisso in 1941, and began performing in local theatres at the age of 15. Graduating from a La Plata secondary school, he continued to...
led to the passage of a National Theatre Law providing subsidies to struggling performance houses, as well as protecting them from demolition. The Opera Theatre was remodeled in 1998 and currently seats 1,852 spectators.
International Performances
- Edith PiafÉdith PiafÉdith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
- Josephine BakerJosephine BakerJosephine Baker was an American dancer, singer, and actress who found fame in her adopted homeland of France. She was given such nicknames as the "Bronze Venus", the "Black Pearl", and the "Créole Goddess"....
- Ava GardnerAva GardnerAva Lavinia Gardner was an American actress.She was signed to a contract by MGM Studios in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew attention with her performance in The Killers . She became one of Hollywood's leading actresses, considered one of the most beautiful women of her day...
- Ella FitzgeraldElla FitzgeraldElla Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
- Louis ArmstrongLouis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
Postcards (c. 1910) depicting the original Opera Theatre