The Margarita Xirgu Theater is one of San Telmo’s great architectural treasures: a modernist hall, a National Historic Monument, which has hosted tango recitals and concerts organized by the Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (UNTREF), as well as performances by the Orquesta de la Radio y la Televisión Pública (Public Radio and Television Orchestra).
This weekend, the theater will reopen its doors with a very special plan and, in addition, with free tickets.
It is the Choral Encounter, which will bring together more than 120 singers from some of the most renowned Buenos Aires choirs to celebrate spring with a varied repertoire. It will include classical works and pieces inspired by the season, such as Vivaldi’sFour Seasons.
Details of the Choral Gathering at the Margarita Xirgu Theater
The event is scheduled for Saturday , September 27 at 5:00 p.m. at the Margarita Xirgu Theater, Chacabuco 875. However, the doors will open at 4:30 p.m. so that the public can get in without a hitch and the experience can start on time.
In total, the concert will last two and a half hours. Admission is free, but space is limited: that is why it is advisable to register in time and secure a place before they run out.
Participating choirs and concert repertoire
On stage will be the River Plate Choir, the Vélez Sarsfield Choir, the Casal de Catalunya, the Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires, the GOPS youth choir and the Calíope ensemble. Together there are more than a hundred voices, a rare choral event in Buenos Aires.
Each group will perform four pieces, always with spring as inspiration. They will perform classical works such as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons or Beethoven’ s Spring Sonata, as well as modern pieces that also evoke the rebirth of the season.
What is the story behind the Margarita Xirgu Theater and its architecture?
Built as part of the Galician Center of Buenos Aires, this theater became a reflection of the strong presence of Spanish immigration in San Telmo. Its name pays tribute to the Catalan actress who staged some of Federico García Lorca‘s most emblematic plays, and its façade -in an academicist style with art deco touches- still imposes itself on Chacabuco Street. In recent years, it underwent a restoration that restored its original luster, but without losing its character. That is why, inside, the theater still radiates the warmth of the old neighborhood theaters.
Other concerts at the Margarita Xirgu Theater this year
Beyond the Choral Encounter, the Margarita Xirgu Theater also hosts the Candlelight concerts, with tributes to Queen, Coldplay or Luis Miguel, as well as programs dedicated to Vivaldi or Mozart.
These evenings add to the offer of classical music in Buenos Aires, which in the Xirgu takes on a special value thanks to its acoustics and its history, now also under candlelight.