The Solís Theater (Teatro Solís) is both an architecturally impressive landmark and a revered center for performing arts. It hosts the Montevideo Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Comedy in addition to bringing in celebrated names from the world of dance, music and theater. Visit the Solís Theater for a captivating journey into a cultural center of Uruguay.
Stand at the theater’s entrance and admire its magnificent neoclassical design, characterized by rows of stately pillars. Its inauguration in 1856 was quite an achievement. At the time, Uruguay was stricken with poverty and embroiled in civil war. The theater takes its name from Juan Díaz Solís, one of the first Europeans to navigate the Rio de la Plata. In the early 2000s the structure underwent a complete restoration, which returned it to its original 19th-century grandeur.
Join a guided tour to visit the theater’s auditoriums and go behind the scenes. Marvel at the lavish ornamentations that decorate the Sala Principal and Sala Zavala Muniz. Learn about the theater’s extensive audio and lighting equipment. Watch rehearsals and impromptu performances by actors and musicians.
Book tickets to a show for the essential Solís Theater experience. Giacomo Puccini, Richard Strauss and Vaslav Nijinsky are some of the world-famous artists to have graced the stage. Today, events range from chamber and orchestral concerts to ballets and contemporary music. The National Comedy puts on adaptations of work by playwrights, including Tennessee Williams and W.H. Hudson.
If you have time, visit the theater’s exposition hall. Here, rotating displays of art, audio and photography celebrate varying aspects of the history of music and theater.
Located just off Independence Square, Solís Theater is a short walk from major attractions in Montevideo’s Old Town. Use the public buses and a hop-on hop-off tourist bus that stop nearby.
Guided tours in English take place from Tuesday to Sunday. Solís Theater has an admission fee. Tours are free on Wednesday. Purchase show tickets at the box office, which is open daily. A complete schedule is available on the theater’s official website.