SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

Other Links

Editorial Board

Google Site Search

The Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires: A vision and a 2009 season (JSJ)

Pedro Pablo García Caffi

One month and a day after being appointed as the new director of the Teatro Colón Pedro Pablo García Caffi held a press conference to present the programme for the 2009 season and his vision for the future of the house.

In a well received message García Caffi committed himself once more to reinaugurating the theatre in 2010, although without specifying a date, saying that it was his vision and a priority for the city government.

Commenting on the former status of the Teatro Colón as one of the great theatres of the world García Caffi said the objective was to reclaim this prestige and the artistic excellence of the theatre, with both an increase in the number of productions and productions of quality, in line with the best internationally.In addition the artistic bodies will be strengthened and the entry of young people will be promoted.

“We are doing this because we want to resolve problems going back decades and because we want to return to our children the Colón that was known by our parents,” said García Caffi.

García Caffi noted that Ar$90 million (£17.8 million) is required to complete the recuperation works during 2009 and that a budget increase to cover this would be requested. He also noted that the Colón’s permanent staff of 1,300 was around fifty percent greater than those of theatres such as Covent Garden, La Scala and the Staatsoper in Munich, and that it would be brought into line with the theatre’s mission and objectives.

“We are here today, aware of the task we face, appreciative of the distinction with which the head of government has honoured us, and mindful of the legacy of the great men and women who bequeathed us one of most important theatres of the world... We are here because we are ready to lead the way for the recovery of the theatre’s original aims, that is to say its artistic excellence and international prestige,” said García Caffi, giving every impression of relishing his new position.

2009 season

The 2009 season comprises no less than 70 different offerings, which will be presented in various venues around Buenos Aires.

Four operas are being offered (all at the Teatro Coliseo):

• Jeanne D’Arc au Bûcher by Honneger on May 19, 22, 26. Soloists Vera Cirkovic (Joan), Didier Sandre (Brother Dominic), conductor John Neschling, director Roberto Plate.

• Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail by Mozart on July 24, 26, 28. Soloists Verónica Cangemi (Constanza), Natasha Tupin (Blonde), Roberto Saccá (Belmonte), Maurizio Muraro (Osmin), conductor Michael Güttler, Willy Landin.

• Orfeo ed Euridice by Gluck on August 25, 28, 30. Soloists Franco Fagioli (Orfeo), Virginia Tola (Euridice), Paula Almerares (Amore), conductor Arnold Östman, director Roberto Oswald.

• I Due Foscari by Verdi on November 29, December 1, 5. Soloists Francesco Foscari, Jacopo Foscari, Lucrezia Contarini/Amparo Navarro, Jacopo Loredano, conductor Carlos Vieu, director Mario Pontiggia.

Other productions include three ballets (El Corsario, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker), a sixteen concert series by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Buenos Aires, six productions from the Teatro Colón Experimentation Centre, including Cage’s Four Walls and Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, and four outdoor productions in the Colón in spring series. In addition there will be workshops and four national and international competitions.

Jonathan Spencer Jones


^{Back to Top                                                    Cumulative Index Page}