The Gran Teatro Nacional in Mexico City; painting by Pedro Gualdi19th-century engraving depicting the great National Theatre of Mexico.
The theatre was built between 1840 and 1844 by architect Lorenzo de la Hidalga in Mexico City. It was located at the end of Cinco de Mayo Ave., on Vergara Street (now Bolívar). It had a capacity of more than 3,500 people; that is to say, 1,500 more seats than the present-day Palacio de Bellas Artes.
Historians consider it the most important architectural work in Mexico City between the completion of the Metropolitan Cathedral and the building of the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The Great National Theatre was inaugurated in one of Antonio López de Santa Anna's terms as president. Its name changed successively, from Great Theatre of Santa Anna to Great Theatre Vergara, then Great Imperial Theatre, and finally Great National Theatre.
During the opera season of 1852, the theatre premiered 17 operas and offered more than 60 performances.
Great Imperial Theatreedit
Pedro Gualdi: Interior of the Great Theatre of Santa Anna (later Great National Theatre of Mexico). 19th century.
In this period a scandal occurred relating to the opera Ildegonda by Melesio Morales, which premiered on 27 January 1866. When the opera was ready, a group of notables, including Don José Urbano Fonseca and Don José Ignacio Durán, went to see the impresario of the Great Imperial Theatre, Don Annibale Biacchi, so that Morales's opera could premiere there. Biacchi answered that he would not stage a work by a Mexican, which would damage his business.[1]
After the death of the emperor Maximilian I of Mexico and the restoration of the Republic, the theatre was renamed Great National Theatre.
Around this time was the worldwide première of Cleopatra by Melesio Morales, writes Mañón:[2]
Demolitionedit
The Great National Theatre would be replaced by the Palacio de Bellas Artes in 1904, but this did not happen until 1934.
The Great National Theatre was demolished between 1900 and 1901 to extend the Avenida Cinco de Mayo [es]. The demolition was justified with the promise that the theatre would be replaced by the Palacio de Bellas Artes, whose construction began in 1904, but was interrupted by the Mexican Revolution, and finally opened in 1934. In the more than 30 years between the demolition of the old theatre and the inauguration of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, opera performances took place at the Teatro Principal and the Teatro Arbeu. Of all these theatres the plans have been restored, and they could be rebuilt.
Worldwide premières at the Great National Theatre of Mexicoedit
Ángela Peralta, a talented soprano who regularly performed at the Great National Theatre.
1877: Gino Corsini, four-act opera by Melesio Morales.
1891: Cleopatra, four-act opera by Melesio Morales.
Referencesedit
^Manuel Mañón: "Historia del viejo Gran Teatro Nacional de México.
^Manuel Mañón: "Historia del viejo Gran Teatro Nacional de México", México: CONACULTA 2010, Tomo II. p. 390,
Bibliographyedit
Contenido magazine, March 2009, "Crónicas de la Ciudad: Así era el Gran Teatro Nacional", by Alberto Barranco Chavarría.
Manuel Mañón: "Historia del viejo Gran Teatro Nacional de México, 1841-1901. Mexico, CONACULTA, 2010.
External linksedit
Media related to Gran Teatro Nacional at Wikimedia Commons
February 27, 2024
gran, teatro, nacional, mexico, national, theatre, mexico, redirects, here, confused, with, national, theatre, company, mexico, great, national, theatre, mexico, large, opera, house, mexico, city, great, national, theatrecontents, milestones, history, great, i. National Theatre of Mexico redirects here Not to be confused with National Theatre Company of Mexico The Great National Theatre of Mexico was a large opera house in Mexico City Great National TheatreContents 1 Milestones in its history 1 1 Great Imperial Theatre 1 2 Great National Theatre 1 3 Demolition 2 Worldwide premieres at the Great National Theatre of Mexico 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksMilestones in its history edit nbsp The Gran Teatro Nacional in Mexico City painting by Pedro Gualdi nbsp 19th century engraving depicting the great National Theatre of Mexico The theatre was built between 1840 and 1844 by architect Lorenzo de la Hidalga in Mexico City It was located at the end of Cinco de Mayo Ave on Vergara Street now Bolivar It had a capacity of more than 3 500 people that is to say 1 500 more seats than the present day Palacio de Bellas Artes Historians consider it the most important architectural work in Mexico City between the completion of the Metropolitan Cathedral and the building of the Palacio de Bellas Artes The Great National Theatre was inaugurated in one of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna s terms as president Its name changed successively from Great Theatre of Santa Anna to Great Theatre Vergara then Great Imperial Theatre and finally Great National Theatre During the opera season of 1852 the theatre premiered 17 operas and offered more than 60 performances Great Imperial Theatre edit nbsp Pedro Gualdi Interior of the Great Theatre of Santa Anna later Great National Theatre of Mexico 19th century During the Second Mexican Empire by command of emperor Maximilian I of Mexico the theatre changed its name to Great Imperial Theatre During this period it was directed by Spanish playwright Jose Zorrilla In this period a scandal occurred relating to the opera Ildegonda by Melesio Morales which premiered on 27 January 1866 When the opera was ready a group of notables including Don Jose Urbano Fonseca and Don Jose Ignacio Duran went to see the impresario of the Great Imperial Theatre Don Annibale Biacchi so that Morales s opera could premiere there Biacchi answered that he would not stage a work by a Mexican which would damage his business 1 Great National Theatre edit nbsp The composer Cenobio Paniagua 1821 1882 After the death of the emperor Maximilian I of Mexico and the restoration of the Republic the theatre was renamed Great National Theatre Around this time was the worldwide premiere of Cleopatra by Melesio Morales writes Manon 2 Demolition edit nbsp The Great National Theatre would be replaced by the Palacio de Bellas Artes in 1904 but this did not happen until 1934 The Great National Theatre was demolished between 1900 and 1901 to extend the Avenida Cinco de Mayo es The demolition was justified with the promise that the theatre would be replaced by the Palacio de Bellas Artes whose construction began in 1904 but was interrupted by the Mexican Revolution and finally opened in 1934 In the more than 30 years between the demolition of the old theatre and the inauguration of the Palacio de Bellas Artes opera performances took place at the Teatro Principal and the Teatro Arbeu Of all these theatres the plans have been restored and they could be rebuilt Worldwide premieres at the Great National Theatre of Mexico edit nbsp Angela Peralta a talented soprano who regularly performed at the Great National Theatre 1859 Catalina de Guisa three act opera by Cenobio Paniagua 1863 Romeo y Julieta opera by Melesio Morales 1864 Agorante rey de la Nubia opera by Miguel Meneses 1866 27 January Ildegonda three act opera by Melesio Morales 1871 9 February Don Quijote en la venta encantada libretto by A Garcia and music by Miguel Planas 1871 13 September Guatimozin one act opera by Aniceto Ortega de Villar with tenor Enrico Tamberlick and soprano Angela Peralta 1877 Gino Corsini four act opera by Melesio Morales 1891 Cleopatra four act opera by Melesio Morales References edit Manuel Manon Historia del viejo Gran Teatro Nacional de Mexico Manuel Manon Historia del viejo Gran Teatro Nacional de Mexico Mexico CONACULTA 2010 Tomo II p 390 Bibliography editContenido magazine March 2009 Cronicas de la Ciudad Asi era el Gran Teatro Nacional by Alberto Barranco Chavarria Manuel Manon Historia del viejo Gran Teatro Nacional de Mexico 1841 1901 Mexico CONACULTA 2010 External links edit nbsp Media related to Gran Teatro Nacional at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gran Teatro Nacional Mexico amp oldid 1152975280, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
