The Cláudio Santoro National Theater (Teatro Nacional Cláudio Santoro) is a multi-

theater Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actor, actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The p ...

building in

Brasília Brasília (; ) is the federal capital of Brazil and seat of government of the Federal District. The city is located at the top of the Brazilian highlands in the country's Central-West region. It was founded by President Juscelino Kubitsche ...

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

. It was designed by

Oscar Niemeyer Oscar Ribeiro de Almeida Niemeyer Soares Filho (15 December 1907 – 5 December 2012), known as Oscar Niemeyer (), was a Brazilian architect considered to be one of the key figures in the development of modern architecture. Niemeyer was ...

in the

Modern Modern may refer to: History * Modern history ** Early Modern period ** Late Modern period *** 18th century *** 19th century *** 20th century ** Contemporary history * Moderns, a faction of Freemasonry that existed in the 18th century Phil ...

architectural style. Construction began on July 30, 1960, and the building was completed in 1966. Built in the shape of a truncated pyramid, it is the largest building in Brasilia designed by Niemeyer specifically for the arts. The building was closed for renovation in 1976, and was reopened on April 21, 1981. The National Theater is operated by Secretary of Culture of the Federal District and is home to three venues; the 60-seat

Alberto Nepomuceno Alberto Nepomuceno (July 6, 1864October 16, 1920) was a Brazilian composer and conductor. Career and music Nepomuceno was born in Fortaleza, the capital of the state of Ceará in Northeastern Brazil. His parents were Vitor Augusto Nepomuceno ...

theater, the 407-seat

Martins Pena Luís Carlos Martins Pena (November 5, 1815 – December 7, 1848) was a Brazilian playwright, famous for introducing to Brazil the "comedy of manners", winning the epithet of "the Brazilian Molière". He is patron of the 29th chair of the Braz ...

theater, and the 1,407 seat

Villa-Lobos Heitor Villa-Lobos (March 5, 1887November 17, 1959) was a Brazilian composer, conductor, cellist, and classical guitarist described as "the single most significant creative figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music". Villa-Lobos has become the ...

theater. The complex also includes an exhibition gallery that is accessible to the public. The Theater has been under renovation for more than two years and remains closed to the public.

History

Construction of the theater was started on July 30, 1960. The building was structurally complete by January 30, 1961, but construction was then interrupted until early 1966. The Martins-Pena theater was opened on April 21, 1966, and was used for ten years until it was closed on September 4, 1976 during completion of the complex. Construction was completed by March 1979, and the Villa-Lobos theatre was opened with a concert conducted by

Cláudio Santoro Cláudio Franco de Sá Santoro (23 November 1919 – 27 March 1989) was an internationally renowned Brazilian composer, conductor and violinist. Biography Early life A native of Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, Santoro started to study violin ...

. The Martins-Pena theater was reopened on March 7, and the Alberto Nepomuceno theatre was opened on March 8. On December 1, 1979, the entire complex was closed again to complete renovations, and construction began on an annex which would include offices, rehearsal rooms, and galleries. The complex was reopened on April 21, 1981, and an annex was opened on June 24, 1981. The theatre was renamed Claudio Santoro National Theater on September 1, 1989, in honor of the Brazilian composer and violinist.

Renovation, closure to the public and other problems

Since January 2014, the National Theater began a long renovation process, not yet completed because of budgetary constraints and the lack of governmental prioritization concerning the matter. Also, due to the low stream of people in the immediate vicinity of the Theater and to the absence of security and surveillance, the external part of the building has become a spot for drug use. Guilherme Reis, current Secretary of Culture of the Federal District, said in a newspaper article that "there is no expectation of reopening the area any time soon".

Notes

External links

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360 degree interactive panorama of main entrance, and lobby of the Villa-Lobos theater
{{DEFAULTSORT:Claudio Santoro National Theater Buildings and structures completed in 1966 Buildings and structures in Brasília Oscar Niemeyer buildings Theatres in Brasília Tourist attractions in Brasília