Around 1894, the playwright Arthur Azevedo — one of the biggest advocates for the establishment of a national theater — launched a campaign, concerned with ensuring that theatrical activities were associated with the modernization process of the late 19th century, to build a theater worthy of Brazil's capital, one that could serve as the home of the first Brazilian theater company, modeled after the Comédie Française. However, neither his campaign nor the subsequent municipal law of 1895, created to raise funds for the theater's construction, succeeded. It was only in 1903, under the administration of Mayor Pereira Passos, that the project for a new theater gained traction.
A competition was held to select the best proposal for the theater's construction. Of the seven submissions, Áquilla by the engineer Francisco de Oliveira Passos, Pereira Passos´ son, and Isadora by the French architect Albert Guilbert tied for first place. The solution was to merge the two designs into a single project, as both were based on the style of the Paris Opera House.
Image description: This is an old black-and-white photograph of a theater under construction. On the left side, we see smaller buildings and a street with a few people walking. In the center, the main theater is being erected with wooden structures and tiles covering parts of the building. On the right, there is a large metal support structure. At the top of the theater, two large domes are visible, each with an ornamental detail in the center.Augusto Malta. Municipal Theater under construction, 1907. Instituto Moreira Salles.
Construction of the Municipal Theater began in 1905 and was considered the most advanced project of the city's urban reform. Leading contemporary artists were enlisted for the interior design. They included Eliseu Visconti, who designed the stage curtains and ceiling paintings and Rodolfo Amoedo, and the Bernardelli brothers, who were responsible for the paintings and sculptures. The stained glass and mosaics were created by European artisans. A total of 280 workers labored continuously, in two shifts, for four years to complete the project.
Image description: This is an old black-and-white photograph of the Theatro Municipal, located in Rio de Janeiro. From left to right, we see trees and a balcony with a balustrade. In the center, the Theatro Municipal displays neoclassical architecture with columns, arches, and ornamental details. The roof is covered with metal tiles and has a large sculpture of an angel on top. In the background, other urban buildings complete the cityscape.Façade of the Municipal Theater, circa 1910. Instituto Moreira Salles.
The grand Rio theater, which had a capacity for 1,739 spectators, was inaugurated on 14 July, 1909, in the presence of then-President of the Republic Nilo Peçanha and the city mayor, Francisco de Souza Aguiar. The Assirius Restaurant, with its Assyrian-style decor, set an avant-garde tone. The façades were impressive with their combination of classical and baroque elements and the bronze and glass dome was a striking feature.
Image description: This is a photograph of a theater. On the left side, we see red chairs arranged in concentric arcs. In the center, there is a stage with red, draped curtains. On the right, people are walking across the stage. The ceiling is decorated with lights and gold details.Palco do Theatro Municipal. Foto: Reprodução
The opening speech at the inauguration ceremony was delivered by Olavo Bilac. The Companhia Dramática founded by Arthur Azevedo performed the play "Bonança" by Coelho Neto, although Azevedo passed away before seeing the final production. In addition to hosting performances, the Municipal Theater became a point of interest in itself, another icon of Pereira Passos´ urban reform.
Image description: This is a photograph of the Theatro Municipal, a historic building located in São Paulo, Brazil. The image shows the theater from the front, with a majestic and ornate façade. On the left side, we see modern buildings, while on the right there are other tall buildings. The theater has a main entrance with three large doors, flanked by columns and balustrades. Above them are large windows with colorful stained glass. The top of the building is rounded and covered with a green metallic roof, featuring gold details and ornamental sculptures. At the top, "THEATRO MUNICIPAL" is written in gold letters.Foto: Reprodução
Image description: The image shows three logos arranged horizontally, from left to right. The first logo, on the left, is blue and white with the text "RIO CAPITAL DO G20 BRASIL 2024" and a colorful symbol. In the center, there is a blue logo with the text "RIO PREFEITURA TURISMO". On the right, an orange logo with the text "RIO MEMÓRIAS". All letters are uppercase and the background is white.
