![TeatroColonBogota](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/TeatroColonBogota.jpg)
The Teatro de Cristóbal Colón (The Christopher Columbus Theatre), also known as the "Teatro Colón", is located in
Bogotá,
Colombia and it is the nation's National Theatre. It was built in the Neoclassical style by the
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
architect Pietro Cantini in 1885 and inaugurated on 27 October 1892.
[Bogota Institute of Tourism website] on the occasion of the fourth centenary of the discovery of America with a performance of
Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the h ...
's ''
Ernani''.
[Background and history of the theatre on bogota-dc.com](_blank)
/ref>
The auditorium was constructed in the tradition horseshoe-shape and modelled on the layout of the Palais Garnier in Paris, but only about half the size.
The Colón Theatre was declared a National Monument on 11 August 1975, and underwent renovations for three years.
Between 2009 and 2010, the theatre was closed for extensive renovations.
History
The Teatro Colón was built within an area of 2.400 square metres. Its Neoclassical style and its facade was designed following the Tuscan Doric order in carved stone, with three parts separated from each other by cornices also made of stone. It was built by the Italian architect Pietro Cantini, who was also working in the construction of the Capitolio Nacional (National Capitol) at the time. The construction started on 5 October 1885 in the same place where the old Ramírez Coliseum and Maldonado Theatre used to be located.
The Swiss architect Luigi Ramelli was in charge of the ornaments and the decoration of this construction. The theatre was named in honour of Christopher Columbus, and was inaugurated on 12 October 1892 to commemorate the Discovery of America. The Teatro Colón was declared a National Monument by decree 1584 of 11 August 1975.
In 2007, the theatre ranked seventh in a nationwide poll to choose the 7 wonders of Colombia conducted by the El Tiempo newspaper.
On 24 November 2016, the modified peace agreement between the Colombian government
The Government of Colombia is a republic with separation of powers into executive, judicial and legislative branches.
Its legislature has a congress,
its judiciary has a supreme court, and
its executive branch has a president.
The citi ...
, led by Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos Calderón (; born 10 August 1951) is a Colombian politician who was the President of Colombia from 2010 to 2018. He was the sole recipient of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize.
An economist by profession and a journalist by trade ...
, and the FARC
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army ( es, link=no, Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de ColombiaEjército del Pueblo, FARC–EP or FARC) is a Marxist–Leninist guerrilla group involved in the continuing Colombian confl ...
, commanded by Rodrigo Londoño, alias Timochenko, was signed at the Teatro Colón, this way ending more than 50 years of conflict and war between the two parties.
Main Hall
The main hall of the Teatro de Cristóbal Colón was inaugurated on 12 October 1892. Great artists have performed there and many international and national performances of a high artistic level have taken place too.
It has a capacity of 785 seats which is distributed as follows:
Front rows (1 to 9): 140 seats
Rear rows (10 to 19): 197 seats
Centre boxes on 1st floor: 60 seats
Lateral boxes on 1st floor: 60 seats
Centre boxes on 2nd floor: 48 seats
Centre boxes on 3rd floor: 46 seats
Lateral boxes on 3rd floor: 38 seats
Gallery: 148 seats
Sala Foyer (Foyer room)
The foyer room is located on the second level of the theatre. In this room the architectural ornamentation of the pilaster
In classical architecture, a pilaster is an architectural element used to give the appearance of a supporting column and to articulate an extent of wall, with only an ornamental function. It consists of a flat surface raised from the main wal ...
s, doors and windows stands out as well as the frescoes on the ceiling. Music concerts with small orchestra
An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families.
There are typically four main sections of instruments:
* bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, c ...
s, chamber music groups and recitals are carried out in it.
Capacity: 120 people
Victor Mallarino Room
This scenic space has a particular significance for the emergence of the modern theatre in Colombia. It was here where Bernardo Romero Lozano promoted the creation of the Escuela Nacional de Arte Dramático (National School of Dramatic Arts). Victor Mallarino was among the Spanish teachers that were invited then. He was a notable reciter and actor, and a prominent figure in the formation of this school, where the first actors educated in Colombia emerged, many of whom have contributed to the history of the national theatre.
Curtain of Gatti
The making of stage curtain was already considered in the contract signed by the government and Antonio Faccini. It was intended to cover the stage during the biggest inaugural functions or during special acts before the commencement of the program, therefore, it was thought it had to be a great work of art.
Florentine artist Annibale Gatti was entrusted with the making of the curtain. It was precisely in Florence where he decided to make his work that was 8.75 metres high and 11.35 wide. The work was completed in 1890 and the curtain was officially hung up on 22 February 1891.
As for the pictures on the curtain, the president Nuñez was inclined for them to portray opera characters. He ordered his commissioners Alejandro Posada, Roberto Suárez, Pietro Cantini and Antonio Faccini to do so. However, Gatti decided to portray the curiosity that people of the town could feel about the construction of the theatre and the lyrical performances at that time. Based on the information provided by the commissioners, he depicted three groups of farmers; men wearing "ruana
A ruana (possibly from Spanish ''ruana'' "ragged" or Quechua ''ruana'' "textile") is a poncho-style outer garment native to the Colombian and Venezuelan Andes. In Colombia, the ruana is the characteristic and traditional garment of the department o ...
s" (a type of poncho
A poncho (; qu, punchu; arn, pontro; "blanket", "woolen fabric") is an outer garment designed to keep the body warm. A rain poncho is made from a watertight material designed to keep the body dry from the rain. Ponchos have been used by the ...
) and hats, and women wearing white shirts and long skirts. The farmers seemed curious and shared the stage with other 36 characters from different opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...
s such as '' Romeo and Juliet'' ''(Gounod), Otello(Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the h ...
), El Barbero de Sevilla ( Rossini), Don Giovanni ( Mozart), Ruy Blas
''Ruy Blas'' is a tragic drama by Victor Hugo. It was the first play presented at the Théâtre de la Renaissance and opened on November 8, 1838. Though considered by many to be Hugo’s best drama, the play was initially met with only average ...
( Marchetti),'' among others.
The first group of farmers was placed on the right, and consisted of five people that paid attention to the explanation of a woman regarding some plans (apparently the facade of the theatre). What is really curious about this image is that the woman making the explanation is a farmer, not a person from an elite class, but a character from the same social class. A second group is located in the centre of the work, and behind the musicians another group can be seen watching the different lyrical characters who are dressed with stunning clothing and jewellery. The idea of Gatti of including rural characters can be interpreted as the need to integrate two worlds, one that is more developed than the other.
President Nuñez showed his disagreement when he saw the draft and sent a letter to the commissioners asking for the figures of farmers to be replaced for more decorative ones. Finally Gatti painted the curtain with the required guidelines, the farmers that had been painted on the right side were replaced by a dance group, the centre and the left ones were also removed and replaced by muses of poetry and music, and an orchestra with ancient instruments was placed in the background.
References
Notes
Sources
Bogota-dc.com/eventos/teatro/colon
(English translation). Retrieved 20 January 2011
Bogota Institute of Tourism website on bogotaturismo.gov.co
(English translation) Retrieved 20 January 2011
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Teatro de Cristobal Colon
Theatres completed in 1892
Theatres in Bogotá
Opera houses in Colombia
Tourist attractions in Bogotá