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Operatic Lifeline

100 Years On, Argentina’s Teatro Colón Remains Latin Institution

by Gary Tischler

In the popular imagination outside Latin America — and perhaps within it too — Argentina and its capital Buenos Aires are probably the most “European” of cultures in Latin America. And nothing screams European like opera, which is seen by many as Europe’s invention and gift to the world.
Some of Argentina’s “European-ness” is of course imaginary, a willful omission of other political and social influences that are very much homegrown. Nevertheless, all clichés have their truths, and what’s undeniable is that the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires is the most famous and noted opera house in all of Latin America, rivaling its counterparts in Europe.

Otro contrato: MasterCard

——- Original Message ——–

Subject: Soy el Teatro Colon Otro contrato

Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2008 11:26:26 -0700 (PDT)

From: colonreport@yahoo.com.ar

 

¿Será esto para alegrarnos o para preocuparnos? Será otra obra maestra de FJC

Para investigar:

GOBIERNO DE LA CIUDAD DE BUENOS AIRES

TEATRO COLÓN

CONTRATO DE PUBLICIDAD

Mensaje de la OETC al maestro Decker

Estimado Maestro:

Vamos a robarle un minuto de su tiempo. Porque después de compartir con Usted tantos momentos durante tres décadas en que llevamos disfrutándolo como huésped, hoy queremos manifestarle el honor que significa para nosotros tener en el podio de la Orquesta Estable a un artista con su apasionada entrega a la música, su extraordinaria capacidad de trabajo, su genio y su infatigable humor, cualidades estas que lo han convertido a Usted en un verdadero pilar de nuestra Orquesta en los difíciles tiempos que estamos atravesando. Por todo esto es hoy, para no robarle más que el minuto prometido, queremos decirle desde el corazón una sola frase:

Maestro, sepa que donde quiera que esté, la Orquesta Estable, ahí estará siempre su casa.

Orquesta Estable del Teatro Colón

Interesting programming from our orchestras

Buenos Aires Herald, domingo, julio 06, 2008

Interesting programming from our orchestras

Yes, I know, there’s no Colón opera season. But its orchestras are active, and some concerts have proved worthwhile. I will give pride of place to the all-Richard Strauss Colón Orchestra night conducted by the 85-year-old Franz-Paul Decker. It was offered twice in successive days at the Auditorio de Belgrano and I heard the second one. One negative point: sparse audiences, which reflects badly on a public that should have realized that this was a session not to be missed. In fact it proved to be the only occasion so far that I would call worthy of the Colón’s international fame, even if it was outside its walls.