Teatro Arriaga Antzokia, Basque Country, Spain
4.5 (281 reviews) Spent Ranking #6 in Province of Vizcaya Theaters
Historical Monument
This is quite a beautiful (and huge) landmark in Bilbao. it is on the river which contributed heavily to the flooding disaster of 1983 that damaged the building. It took 3 years to get it rebuilt after the flood. But this is not the building's first skirmish with fate. It was built in 1890 in the New Baroque style (lavish and sumptuous) but, in 1918, a fire nearly destroyed it. But this beauty, like a phoenix, kept coming back to life. On the top of the roofline, it appears there is a male nude riding on the back of a peacock. It is possible this is a nod to Greek or Roman Mythology and it would not be out of character to see a fanciful bronze like this atop a theater which delivers its own alternative to reality. Located on the edge of Casca Viejo, it is hard to miss this copy of the Paris Opera House.
Address
Plaza Arriaga, 1, 48005 Bilbao Spain
Mobile
Website
http://www.teatroarriaga.com/home.php?idioma=
Current local date and time now
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 10:17
User Ratings
4.5 based on (281 reviews)
Reviews
-
4macedonboy 5:00 PM Dec 21, 2022
Baroque Building
The Teatro Arriaga is an opera house designed in Neo-baroque style by architect Joaquín Rucoba. Today, the Arriaga is an operating art house with programmes of music and theatre, but I didn’t see any shows here. The exterior is lavishly decorated as you would expect for a Baroque design. Best to see it at night when the building is lit up. Not sure why another reviewer said the statues were too high up, I could see the statues perfectly fine and I’m not exactly tall. Stand on the pavement next to the road rather than the concourse in front of the building and everything will be clear.
-
4BennyMalaga 5:00 PM Jul 1, 2012
Beautiful Architecture
The Arriaga Theater is located at Plaza Arriaga, 1. This theater was inspired by the Paris Opera House and finished in 1890, the architects being Joaquin Rucoba and Octavio de Toledo. It is named after Juan Crisostomo de Arriaga, a local composer, and his bust is found at the imperial staircase. The facade is a mixture of many styles. The theater had electric lighting, which at that time was the latest technological advance. A fire on Dec. 22, 1914, destroyed the building. Architect Federico de Ugalde was hired to rebuild the theater, making it larger and safer. The new inauguration of the theater took place on June 5, 1919, with the performance of Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi. In 1978 the City Hall took ownership of the theater from private sources. The building was closed due to its poor condition. In 1980 the building was renovated and it reopened on Dec. 5, 1986. The theater is used for opera, ballet, concerts, and theater.
