The Theatro Municipal
Structures like the Theatro Municipal remind us of the days when
Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil. Erected in 1909, it served as the centerpiece to Cinelândia, once the city’s cultural epicenter. With its
Paris Opera–inspired domes, staircases, and bronze filigree, the theater has presented a century of international spectacle including opera, dance, and classical music. It continues to be a top entertainment venue, home to a resident ballet and symphony orchestra. Even Brazil’s biggest pop acts play the Municipal—a misnomer, perhaps, since the theater has always been national in ambition and scope.
