|
 HISTORY OF THE CULTURA ARTÍSTICA THEATRE
Since 1919, Cultura Artística had nurtured a great dream: to have its own theatre, its own home.
This was only made possible by the end of the 1940s. The construction of the theatre, between 1947 and 1950, was a period of enormous enthusiasm. The building was projected by Rino Levi (one of the leading Brazilian architects), Roberto Cerqueira César and Fa Pestalozzi.
The opening was held on two nights, March 8th and 9th, 1950, and headed by two of the greatest Brazilian conductors and composers. Heitor Villa-Lobos and Camargo Guarnieri carefully prepared the concerts, which were also the opening events of that year's season, conducting the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra one at a time while presenting their own musical creations. At that time Cultura Artística already had 2,500 season subscribers and even the main hall could not accommodate all of them in one evening. It was then that the tradition of holding a second concert with the same artist was created by Cultura Artística. As the years went by, the growing number of subscribers led the Society to open a third series of concerts.
 |
 |
|
The theatre had two concert halls, the first one named Esther Mesquita, with 1,156 seats, and the second one named Rubens Sverner, with 339 seats. This smallest room was also known as Culturinha. Both had air conditioning systems and full access for the disabled.
The beautiful façade of the Cultura Artística Theatre is adorned by the biggest fresco ever created by Brazilian artist Di Cavalcanti. Made of glass mosaic, it is 48 metres wide and 8 metres high. It was specially ordered and also unveiled on March 8th, 1950.
In addition to concerts, the theatre started hosting theatrical events by the best national and international companies.
Always on demand – even after the opening of a great number of new theatres in São Paulo –, Cultura Artística has always held many important national or regional premières.
Among leading national actors who have acted in Cultura Artística, are the following: Jaime Costa, Paulo Autran, Tonia Carrero, Cacilda Becker, Jardel Filho, Sérgio Cardoso, Procópio, Bibi Ferreira, Walmor Chagas, Odete Lara, Dercy Gonçalves, Irina Greco, Odete Lara, Armando Bogus, Maria Della Costa, Antonio Fagundes, Marco Nanini, Fernanda Montenegro, Marília Pera, Karin Rodrigues, Ney Latorraca, Juliana Carneiro da Cunha, Aracy Balabanian, Jô Soares, Eva Wilma, Carlos Zara, Beatriz Segall, Juca de Oliveira, Denise Fraga, Marieta Severo, Regina Duarte, Debora Bloch, Ary Fontoura, Andrea Beltrão, Denise Stoklos, Renata Sorrah, Diogo Vilela, Fernanda Torres. And the list could continue.
Among the international groups and companies we could mention: Piccolo Teatro di Milano, Josephine Baker, the French mime Marcel Marceau, Comédie Française, Mummenschanz, Teatro Popolare di Roma, the Japanese groups Kabuki Theatre ; Bunraku Puppet Theatre, and Kodo Tambours, among many others.
After the fire which destroyed the theatre in August 2008, Cultura Artística directors immediately decided for the rebuilding of its theatre at the same address where it received, for 58 years, top musical and theatrical events. This is a very ambitious project and will result in the most modern concert hall in the country, besides enabling the redevelopment of the whole surrounding area. At the core of the proposal is th maintenance of the great Di Cavalcanti panel at the façade, which escaped the fire unscathed.
......................................
|
