On Stage (more BA Day 3)

Following our big morning at The Food Bank, we hopped on the subway once again to explore more in the city of Buenos Aires. This time we had culture in mind. Theatre culture. One theatre visit was led by a tour guide and the other was a freebie. Both were impressive! And now, ladies and gentlemen, presenting...

 

STAGE # 1 Teatro Colon.  The Opera House.

 

Teatro Colon took 18 years to build and was inaugurated in 1908 with Verdi's Aida. Sumptuous building materials - three kinds of Italian marble, stained glass from France and Venetian mosaics - were imported from Europe

to create large-scale lavishness.  (That last sentence isn't mine; it comes directly from FODOR'S Buenos Aires travel guidebook.  I liked it so much I had to use it.)

 

Also, I happily report that, contrary to the guidebook, the Opera House is now up and running again after a lengthy renovation project.

 

This place is gorgeous!

 

The last part of our tour included taking a seat inside the Opera House. Looking forward we saw the stage, looking sideways we saw the box seats and looking up revealed the most impressive view of the painted dome and chandelier. This chandelier drops down and there is seating up there for musicians to add "special effects" to the performances.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

STAGE #2 - several blocks away from The Opera House.  Same afternoon.

 

Imagine this: a theatre has staged its final performance.

 A beauty of a building with no one inside to clap, ooh and ahh. Opened in 1919

as Teatro Gran Splendid, the theatre seating could handle up to 1,050 patrons.

Many tango performances, radio broadcasts and other productions later, it was decided in

1929 to use the theatre for movies.

Fast forward to a wrecking ball about ready to swing and destroy the theatre in the late 90s.

Someone had the idea to invest in this gem, renovate and convert it to a book and music store

and in February of 2000, the work was begun.

The theatre is now known as Libreria El Atenco.

Original balconies, painted dome ceiling, ornate carvings and the stage has
 been saved. What was once the stage is a cafe-type restaurant.  An opening was made in
 the auditorium floor with a stairway to the lower level constructed - now home to the
children's collection and music CDs.

 

Note that the theatre houses books in the box seat area and lobby.

Imagine my thrill finding Miss Olivia on the shelves in the Children's area!

Once you have made you purchase(s), simply go to the ticket booths to pay.

 

Our purchases included two items: a board book (in Spanish) for Miss M

and a Memo Corazon memory card game for Miss E.

 

If I would've had more time and pesos, I could have done some serious damage here!

Which theatre do you like best?