The 8 most impressive concert halls in Latin America

The experience of music on a compact disc, on the radio or live is remarkably different, it is difficult to describe the effects that large concert halls have on viewers. Architecture, acoustics, engineering, design, and music itself have come together to create true works of art that allow us to appreciate music in all its splendor: opera, chamber music, and symphonic music, among others.

In our region, there are numerous concert halls created with their own personalities that make them unique. In its scenarios have been the greatest exponents of world music and therefore we have created this list with 8 of the most impressive rooms in Latin America, which year after year are filled with music lovers looking to enjoy their atmospheres.

1. León de Greiff Auditorium, Bogotá, Colombia

With a capacity of 1,619 seats, this auditorium has one of the best acoustics in the region. It is home of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Bogotá and, as if that were not enough, it has been declared as a National Heritage in Colombia. It belongs to the National University and was created by the architect Eugenia Mantilla de Cardoso, who was awarded for this work, according to the same house of studies.

2. Nezahualcóyotl Room, Mexico City, Mexico

This room has an impressive acoustic design that can be seen on soffits that seem to float from the ceiling. It is the work of the architect Arcadio Artís Espriú who was inspired by the Berliner Philharmonie. The Nezahualcóyotl hall belongs to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and is the headquarters of the Philharmonic orchestras of the UNAM, Symphony of Mining and University Juvenile "Eduardo Mata". The Excelsior newspaper mentions some of the personalities that have appeared in this room, highlighting the directors Zubin Mehta and Leonard Bernstein.

3. 'Aula Magna', Caracas, Venezuela

Another university hall, in this case, the Aula Magna belongs to the Central University of Venezuela (UCV). It stands out for the artistic work of the panels located on the roof, called Calder's Clouds, by the American artist Alexander Calder. This work that hangs from the ceiling has a decorative and at the same time acoustic function. The architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva was in charge of the design of the hall and, as mentioned by the same university, is one of the few in the world that has the honor of being a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage within the award-winning University City of the UCV.

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4. Colon Theater, Buenos Aires, Argentina

One of the monumental works of Buenos Aires opened its doors in 1908 and since then it has become one of the largest rooms in the world, at the height of places like the Teatro Alla Scala in Milan. According to information from the Colon Theater (Teatro Colón), the site is the work of architects Francesco Tamburini, Victor Meano, and Jules Dormal. Among the names that have stepped on his stage are personalities such as Arturo Toscanini, Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas, Igor Stravinsky, and Herbert von Karajan.

5. São Paulo Room, São Paulo, Brazil

A place with a lot of history, it first functioned as the Júlio Prestes train station, although as the Galeria da Arquitetura site stands out, the work was never completed and worse, it fell into disrepair. The old building dating from 1920 was remodeled and adapted to become the current São Paulo Hall, one of the most important in Brazil, home of the State Symphony Orchestra of the State of São Paulo. It is undoubtedly one of the most impressive for its architecture and dimensions.

6. Luis Ángel Arango Room, Bogotá, Colombia

Created with support from the Bank of the Republic in Colombia, this room is located in the most important library in the country. With more than 50 years of history, it is an enclosure dedicated to the dissemination of culture, so its tickets have low costs, something that Vice magazine highlights. Because of its size, it is an optimal place for chamber music and even jazz, on its stage they have played characters such as Joshua Bell, the Latin American Quartet, the Kronos Quartet, Claudio Arrau, Ravi Shankar, Wynton Marsalis, and Jordi Savall, an impressive variety.

7. Palace of Fine Arts, Mexico City, Mexico

Headquarters of the National Symphony Orchestra, this site was unfinished at the beginning of the Mexican Revolution and survived abandoned until it was concluded in 1934 with a great variety of styles and artistic trends. It is considered the maximum enclosure of art in the country, contains in its exterior sculptures with pre-Hispanic motifs, in addition to a large glass curtain made in New York especially for its main room that contains the image of the two volcanoes that dominate the horizon of the Mexican capital, according to Millennium newspaper.

8. Grand National Theater, Lima, Peru

A building that stands out for its modernity, is a young place that opened its doors in 2012 but has quickly earned a place among the main rooms in the region. With a cost of 100 million dollars, engineering and architecture were integrated into its planning, but also elements such as state-of-the-art technology, which allow it to adapt to all kinds of shows, including theater, dance and then music, with a pit for large productions as reported by RPP News.