Teatro Colón is the grand opera house of Buenos Aires, set between Avenida 9 de Julio, Calle Libertad and Plaza Lavalle in the city centre. From the street its cream-coloured façade is hard to miss: tall arched windows, Corinthian columns, sculpted reliefs and a row of iron lanterns along the entrance, all framed by the leafy square in front.
The current building opened on 25 May 1908 with Verdi’s Aïda, after almost twenty years of construction under three architects. Its mix of Italian Renaissance, French and German influences made it a symbol of Argentina’s golden age, and it is often ranked among the finest opera houses in the world, especially for its acoustics. It was declared a National Historic Monument in 1991 and reopened in 2010 after a major restoration.
Inside, the horseshoe-shaped main hall seats around 2,500 people beneath a dome painted by Argentine artist Raúl Soldi. Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and Rudolf Nureyev all performed here, and today the house presents opera, ballet and symphonic concerts by its own resident orchestra, choir and ballet company, as well as the Buenos Aires Philharmonic.
Not catching a show? Daily guided tours take you through the marble foyer, the Golden Hall (Salón Dorado) and up to the boxes of the main auditorium, telling the story of the building along the way.
Good to Know
- Address: Cerrito 628, C1010 Buenos Aires, Argentina (box office and tour entrance on Tucumán 1171)
- Tours: guided visits run daily in Spanish and English; book ahead in high season (check before visiting)
- Performances: opera, ballet and concert seasons run mainly from March to December
- Getting there: a short walk from Tribunales station (Line D) and Carlos Pellegrini / 9 de Julio stations
- Website: teatrocolon.org.ar
Planning a night out? Browse more Events venues on P6D, or see another legendary stage at the Apollo Theater in New York.
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