The Opera House "Colon Theater" - Buenos Aires

It is amongst the most famous in the world and has a magnificent programme of Opera and Ballet. Opened in 1908 and one of the world’s most important lyrical theaters, this famed 2,500-seat opera house has hosted the greats, from Maria Callas and Enrico Caruso to Luciano Pavarotti. Musical activity covers all genres, especially the tango. This theatre is the largest musical one in South America and one of the most beautiful and famous throught the world. According to aficionados, the theatre acoustics are almost perfect. The theatre seats 2.500 people distribuited in the stalls, boxes and the four rises: cazuela, tertulia, gallery and paradise. Its dome was made by the famous local painter Raúl Soldi. The theatre has a gigantic crystal chandelier with more than 700 lights - most remarkably its interior can accomodate an orchestra.

Its magnitude, magnificent acoustics, and opulence (grander than Milan's La Scala) position the Teatro Colón (Colón Theater) among the world's top five operas. An ever-changing stream of imported talent bolsters the well-regarded local lyric and ballet companies. After an eventful 18-year building process involving the death of one architect and the murder of another, the ornate Italianate structure was finally inaugurated in 1908 with Verdi's Aida. It has hosted the likes of Maria Callas, Richard Strauss, Arturo Toscanini, Igor Stravinsky, Enrico Caruso, and Luciano Pavarotti, who has said that the Colón has only one flaw: the acoustics are so good, every mistake can be heard.

The theater's sumptuous building materials—three kinds of Italian marble, French stained glass, and Venetian mosaics—were imported from Europe to create large-scale lavishness. The seven-tier main theater is breathtaking in size, and has a grand central chandelier with 700 lights to illuminate the 3,000 mere mortals in its red-velvet seats.

Getting There: Teatro Colon is located at Cerrito 618 in the San Nicolas barrio. Take any of the Subte lines to “Carlos Pellegrini” or the D line to “Tribunales”. Colectivos (city buses) 67, 38, 59, 60, 29, 100, 6, 153, 39, 10, 5, 102, 24, 106, 26, 75, 111, 115, 129, 132, 140, 142, and 150 stop nearby.