Teatro Independencia
Mendoza's neoclassical provincial theatre of 1925, seating 730 under four tiers of balconies.
A provincial law of 1922 provided for a theatre, a hotel and a casino on the edge of Plaza Independencia. Construction of the theatre began in 1923 to a design by the architect Alfredo Israel and was carried out by the engineering firm of Perrone and Ayerza, taking about two years. A preview was given on 14 November 1925 and the official opening followed on the 18th with La emigrada by Vicente Martínez Cuitiño. The reinforced concrete structure was planned with earthquakes in mind.
The front is composed as a classical temple, with Corinthian columns, a rococo frieze and strict axial symmetry. Inside, the hall holds about 730 people beneath four tiers of balconies and is regarded as one of the best rooms for sound in the region. Cinema equipment was added in 1944 and a fire in 1963 closed the building until 1965. Works begun in 2000 added a five-storey annexe, and the theatre reopened in 2003. It was declared a national historic monument in 2011.
Highlights
- Classical temple front facing Plaza Independencia
- Main hall seating about 730 under four tiers of balconies
- Home stage of the Mendoza Philharmonic Orchestra
- Declared a national historic monument in 2011
