Considered one of the most important theatres in Argentina and a key reference in the Latin American theatre scene, the Teatro Cervantes offers a wide programme, ranging from classic and contemporary plays to concerts, dance and other artistic expressions. Following is more information about this emblematic place.
The history of this century-old theatre
Inaugurated in 1921, the Teatro Cervantes was the realisation of the dream of Spanish actress María Guerrero and her husband Fernando Díaz de Mendoza. They not only devoted all their willpower and energy, but also their personal fortune to carry out the project of building this magnificent theatre in Buenos Aires.
They even involved the King of Spain himself in this venture, who ordered that all Spanish cargo ships under his government that arrived in Buenos Aires had to take the essential artistic elements for the Cervantes.
Ten Spanish cities contributed to the sumptuous theatre: from Valencia came tiles and damasks; from Tarragona, the red tiles for the floor; from Ronda, the box doors, copied from an old sacristy; from Seville, the seats of the patio stalls, cabinets, mirrors, benches, railings, hardware, tiles; from Lucena, chandeliers, lamps, lanterns; from Barcelona, the fresco painting for the theatre’s ceiling, from Madrid, the curtains, tapestries and the stage curtain, a true masterpiece of tapestry art that represented the coat of arms of Ciudad de Buenos Aires embroidered in silk and gold.
Did you know that its façade reproduces in detail the University of Alcalá de Henares? This is a clear example of Spanish Renaissance style. Furthermore, the construction and ornamentation of the Cervantes required almost seven hundred people including workers and artists.
The Cervantes inside
The theatre has three halls, both for theatre performances and for other artistic expressions.
- The main hall, “María Guerrero”, is the largest, with a total capacity for 860 spectators. Designed in classic Italian style, it has a main stall area, boxes and balcony. The doors to the boxes are inspired by antique Spanish abbeys, and the corridors are illuminated with bronze lamps shaped like oil lamps. Rayon damask curtains separate the boxes from the ante-boxes, which are equipped with mirrors, coat racks and a bench with a backrest.
- The “Orestes Caviglia" Hall, situated where the old café used to be, has mudejar style chairs and capacity for 150 people. Its structure makes it ideal for chamber music concerts and intimate shows.
- The “Luisa Vehil" Hall has neither a stage nor stalls, which allows it to be adapted as required. It is inspired by the María Luisa Hall of the Palacio de Oriente in Madrid, and it is known as Salón Dorado for its decoration finished with gold leaf.
More than a theatre
In addition to theatre performances, the Cervantes hosts:
- Instituto Nacional de Estudios Teatrales: dedicated to research and training in the theatre field.
- Museo del Teatro Cervantes: with a rich collection of objects, photographs and documents that tell the history of the theatre.
- Theatre Archive: a valuable repository of documentary material on the Argentine theatre.
- Specialised Library: with an extensive collection of books, magazines and other theatre materials.
In 1995 it was declared Monumento Histórico Nacional, in recognition for its architectural and cultural value. Hundreds of plays have premiered here, and it has hosted the most prestigious actors and directors.
The Teatro Nacional Cervantes is much more than a building; it is a symbol of Argentine culture, a space for artistic creation and a place where the country’s theatre memory is preserved.
We invite you to visit this historical monument in Ciudad de Buenos Aires.
Location:
Libertad 815, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires