SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

The Teatro Colón emerges from its long renovation. (Photo Jonathan Spencer Jones)

Buenos Aires’ Teatro Colón, closed for renovations since November 2006, will reopen next year on Argentina’s bicentenary, May 25, 2010.

This was announced by director general Pedro Pablo García Caffi in an emotionally charged press conference recently, along with a season of 183 opera, ballet, symphonic and other musical functions that will take place in the reopened theatre.

Describing the reopening as a “historic moment” for opera and for the country, García Caffi added that the season was aimed at returning the Teatro Colón to its former artistic excellence as one of the top theatres in the world.

While there has been understandable controversy over the lengthy closure of the Teatro Colón, including during its own centenary in 2008, it is clear from a video that was shown at the event that the renovation and modernization that has taken place has been extensive, indeed the most extensive in the building’s history. Inside and out, from top to bottom, and both front and backstage, it would appear that every detail down to the smallest has received attention under the guidance of experts and craftsmen. Marble has been cleaned, paintwork has been touched up and seating has been refurbished. A new system for transferring scenery from the construction area to the stage has been built and the revolving stage has been remodelled, and not least an extensive fire protection system has been installed.

The Gala reopening function on May 25 will comprise a selection from Act III of Swan Lake and the short Act II of La Bohème – the most often performed opera at the Colón, which also opens the season on the following evening.

The full opera season is as follows:

La Bohème: Virginia Tola, Nicole Cabell, Marius Manea, Marco Caria, Denis Sedov (principals), Hugo de Ana (director), Stefano Ranzani (conductor), May 26, 28, 30, June 1, 4, 6.

Don Giovanni: Virginia Tola, Norah Amsellem, John Tessier, Juan Gatell, Eduardo Chama, Ernesto Morillo (p), Michael Hampe (d), John Neschling (c), July 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25.

Manon: Anne Sophie Duprels, John Osborn, Carlos Esquivel, Víctor Torres (p), Renaud Doucet (d), Philippe Auguin (c), August 10, 13, 15, 17.

Kátia Kabanová: Andrea Dankova, Miro Dvorsky, Elena Zhidkova, Reinhard Dorm, Agnes Zwierko (p), Pedro Pablo García Caffi (d), György Rath (c), September 21, 24, 26, 28.

Eine Florentinische Tragödie / Violanta: James Johnson, Evan Bowers, Deanne Meek / Eiko Senda, Evan Bowers, Wolfgang Schöne (p), Hans Hollmann (d), Stefan Lano (c), October 12, 15, 17, 19.

Falstaff: Alan Opie, Svetla Vassileva, Paula Almerares, Darío Schmunck, Graciela Alperyn (p), Roberto Oswald (d), Marco Guidarini (c), November 27, 30, December 3, 5.

Other opera-related events include a concert performance of Aida on August 29 and 31 and Verdi’s Requiem on August 30, both presented by the orchestra and chorus of Teatro Alla Scala de Milán under the baton of Daniel Barenboim.

Jonathan Spencer Jones