Solís Theatre Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Solis Theatre
Construction
Teatro Solis in 2016
Address	Buenos Aires 678 Montevideo Uruguay
Owner	Government of Montevideo
Type	Municipal (Montevideo)
Capacity	1500
Current use	Opera, Ballet, Concerts, Plays
Opened	1856
Renovated	1996 - 2004
Years active	161
Architect	Carlo Zucchi Francisco Xavier Garmendia Víctor Rabú

The Solís Theatre (called Teatro Solís in Spanish) is the most famous and important theater in Uruguay. It first opened its doors in 1856. An Italian architect named Carlo Zucchi designed this beautiful building. You can find it in Montevideo's Old Town, right next to Plaza Independencia. The theater got its name from Juan Díaz de Solís, an explorer who was the first European to arrive in what is now Uruguay.

In 1998, the government of Montevideo began a big project to rebuild parts of the theater. This work finished in 2004, and the theater reopened in August of that year. Experts from a French company helped make sure the sound inside the theater was perfect.

The first opera from Uruguay, called La Parisina by Tomás Giribaldi, was performed at the Solís Theatre on September 14, 1878.

History of the Solís Theatre
- How the Idea Started
- Choosing the Best Location
What Makes It Special
Image gallery
See also

History of the Solís Theatre

How the Idea Started

In 1833, a group of important people in Montevideo decided they wanted to build a new theater. They formed a special committee, led by Francisco Margariños, to make this happen. By 1840, the government approved their plan. Juan Francisco Giró led the team in charge of building the theater. Other well-known citizens were also part of this group.

The committee's first meeting was on June 16, 1840. Their goal was to create a cultural center. They wanted the theater to be a place that showed the free spirit of the new country, the Eastern State of Uruguay. They hoped it would bring harmony, success, and wealth to society.

Building a grand theater was also a way for people to show their social and political importance. It was a place where important citizens could meet and be seen. The new theater would offer a perfect spot for the city's leaders and wealthy families to socialize.

Choosing the Best Location

In August 1840, the Italian architect Carlo Zucchi showed his plans for the theater. He also suggested where it should be built.

Zucchi looked at three possible areas around the city. He thought carefully about how the location would affect the theater's design and look. He also considered practical things like the best way to set up the stage, seating, and even the water and drainage systems. He knew the ground needed to be right for all these parts.

Out of the three choices, Zucchi liked option A the most. However, he noted that this area had some problems with how the land was divided. Then, he focused on option C. He mentioned that this spot would need some digging work, but it had a natural ditch that could be used for drainage.

After hearing all the information, the Theater Committee chose option C. They bought the land for the theater. At that time, this area was on the edge of the city. It was surrounded by ditches, sand dunes, and roads. The city's new walls, which would expand the city, were not yet finished.

What Makes It Special

The Solís Theatre is located in the Old City part of Montevideo. Its main entrance is on the corner of Buenos Aires Street and Bartolomé Mitre.

The outside of the building looks a bit like the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Italy. The main concert hall inside the Solís Theatre has a slightly oval shape. This is similar to the concert hall of La Scala in Milan, another famous Italian theater. The inside of the Solís Theatre also reminds people of the Italian Teatro Metastasio, which is near Florence, Italy.