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The Sauto Theater opened in 1863 in
When it opened in 1863, it was named Teatro Esteban, after the Civil Governor of Matanzas at the time, Pedro Esteban y Arranz. But soon it adopted the last name of Ambrosio de la Concepción Sauto, a patron of the arts who contributed much to its construction and splendour. Due to the proximity of Matanzas to
Sauto Theatre on planetware.com in English
{{Coord, 23, 2, 45.92, N, 81, 34, 24.86, W, scale:5000_region:CU, display=title Commercial buildings completed in 1863 Theatres in Cuba Spanish Colonial architecture in Cuba Neoclassical architecture in Cuba Buildings and structures in Matanzas Tourist attractions in Matanzas Province Theatres completed in 1863 Music venues completed in 1863
Matanzas
Matanzas (Cuban ) is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas. Known for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore, it is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas (Spanish ''Bahia de Matanzas''), east ...
, Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
, and has since then been a proud symbol of the city. The U-shaped 775-seat theatre is almost entirely covered with wood-panelling. It has three balconies, and its floor can be raised to convert the auditorium into a ballroom. The original theater curtain is a painting of the Puente de la Concordia over the Yumurí River
The Yumurí is a river in Cuba, which drains into Bahia de Matanzas, an arm of the Straits of Florida in the historic provincial capital of Matanzas. The river begins in the village of Imias and winds its way through , including a steep canyon ...
. The lobby is graced by Carrara marble statues of Greek goddesses and the main hall ceiling bears paintings of the muses.
History
When it opened in 1863, it was named Teatro Esteban, after the Civil Governor of Matanzas at the time, Pedro Esteban y Arranz. But soon it adopted the last name of Ambrosio de la Concepción Sauto, a patron of the arts who contributed much to its construction and splendour. Due to the proximity of Matanzas to Havana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.
, the cultural awareness of its people, and the solvency of its rich landowners, the Sauto Theater was visited regularly by the great performers who appeared in Havana.
The Sauto attracted world famous performers such as French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
actress Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt (; born Henriette-Rosine Bernard; 22 or 23 October 1844 – 26 March 1923) was a French stage actress who starred in some of the most popular French plays of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including '' La Dame Aux Camel ...
(in '' Camille'' in 1887), Russian dancer Anna Pavlova
Anna Pavlovna Pavlova ( , rus, Анна Павловна Павлова ), born Anna Matveyevna Pavlova ( rus, Анна Матвеевна Павлова; – 23 January 1931), was a Russian prima ballerina of the late 19th and the early 20th ...
in 1945, Cuban
Cuban may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean
* Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent
** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof
* Cuban citizen, a perso ...
composer José White Lafitte
José Silvestre White Lafitte (17 January 1836, in Matanzas, Cuba – 12–15 March 1918, Paris, France), also known as Joseph White, was a Cuban-French violinist and composer.
Biography
His father Don Carlos White was Spanish people, Spa ...
, Italian opera singer Enrico Caruso
Enrico Caruso (, , ; 25 February 1873 – 2 August 1921) was an Italian operatic first lyrical tenor then dramatic tenor. He sang to great acclaim at the major opera houses of Europe and the Americas, appearing in a wide variety of roles (74) ...
, and Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia.
The theatre today
Besides being a sub-venue for important international events held in the capital, such as the International Ballet Festival and Mayo Teatral, the Sauto presents programmes about five days a week. Considered the most elegant and functional of 19th-century Cuban theatres, it has become a symbol of the city, so much so that the greatMexican
Mexican may refer to:
Mexico and its culture
*Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America
** People
*** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants
*** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
muralist Diego Rivera once said, "I recognize Matanzas by the Sauto." The theatre was declared a National Monument in 1978.
The theatre was closed for renovations between 2010 and 2018.It forms, together with the Junco Palace of the Provincial Museum and the La Vigía building of the Provincial Council of Fine Arts, the Pedro Esquerré Gallery Museum, the Historical Ensemble of the Plaza de las Armas.
See also
*Circuba
Circuba is Cuba's national circus and is associated with the Cuban National Circus School founded on June 6, 1968.
Members of the Circuba company have to first complete the normal academic course work required of all Cuban students before they ca ...
References
External links
Sauto Theatre on planetware.com in English
{{Coord, 23, 2, 45.92, N, 81, 34, 24.86, W, scale:5000_region:CU, display=title Commercial buildings completed in 1863 Theatres in Cuba Spanish Colonial architecture in Cuba Neoclassical architecture in Cuba Buildings and structures in Matanzas Tourist attractions in Matanzas Province Theatres completed in 1863 Music venues completed in 1863