The Grand Theater of Havana was inaugurated in the spring of 1838. Meanwhile, the building that the theater occupies now was built only in 1915 by a Belgian from Transylvania, Paul Belau. This wonderful example of colonial baroque, which is so rich in the capital of Cuba, is part of the palace complex of the Galician Center.
Located directly at the Capitol this recognizable building with a corner tower can not bypass on any tourist route .The new theater building at the corner of the Prado Avenue and San Rafael Street was built on the means of immigrants from Galicia .Restoration of the former theater began in 1908 ., and by the year 1915 .from the old building is not left, in fact, almost nothing .In its place appeared a masterpiece of German Baroque stone and marble with a fancifully decorated facade, which adorns the sculptures of the Italian Giuseppe Moretti, allegorically representing the Theater, Music, Education and Charity .Above the interior trim also worked to fame: a wide beautiful marble staircase leads to the second level, and the seats were studded with expensive red velvet .Located directly at the Capitol this building can not be ignored on any tourist itinerary .
For a long time the theater was called the Theater Takon, but in 1985 .At the suggestion of Alicia Alonso, the famous prima ballerina, was named Bolshoi .There are quite objective grounds for that: the Havana Grand Theater is indeed one of the largest in the world .It is designed for one and a half thousand seats .And this is the capacity of only the main hall - the audience Garcia Lorca .But there are also other scenes: Alejo Carpentier's concert hall and Ernesto Lekuono's hall (sometimes feature films are shown here) and the rooms where modern art exhibitions are held .
On the stage of the big theater Anna Pavlova and Maya Plisetskaya, Enrico Caruso and Arthur Rubinstein, Sarah Bernard and Ole Bull were shining. Honored ballet troupes from all over the world also took part here. Today there are not only classical concerts here: the Bolshoi Theater welcomes modern jazz and pop artists, for example, Simply Red.
Officially, the Bolshoi Theater is considered the home of the national Cuban ballet. In addition, the premises here are occupied by dance centers, ballet school courses and "Pro-Art Lirico" music center.
The annual international ballet festival takes place at the Bolshoi Theater in October, the Spanish ballet season in August. In other seasons performances in the theater go every week, mainly from Friday to Sunday. Since 2012, the theater undergoes a slow restoration, but this practically does not interfere with the concerts.
Address: Habana, Paseo de Marti, 458.
| Bolshoi Theater of Havana |
| The Bolshoi Theater of Havana at night |
| Hall, Bolshoi Theater of Havana |
| Sculptures, Bolshoi Theater of Havana |