CubaPLUS Magazine

We will start with the Martí Theater, born with the name of Irijoa in 1884, in the privileged enclave that today is the historic center of the capital, in a place near Bahía de Carenas, at that time very centrally located in the beautiful city that was developing vigorously in the island Key of the Gulf.

Showing colonial-style architecture, from its beginnings it had in its construction the most advanced technological knowledge of the time to achieve that end. It was once called the Colosseum of 100 Doors, because in its predominantly horizontal structure, these were lavished, giving enviable ventilation at that time.

Its setting and its stalls, were also new, and in the lobbies and stairs, iincludeddecorated with marbles and the filigree of wrought iron in beautiful columns gave it a sumptuous beauty. From the beginning, what was most valuable about buffo theater happened there. Cuban, very Creole and often loaded with messages not only picaresque, but political. Then, in its golden age, already at the beginning of the 20th century, when it bore the name of Martí, also gave way to opera, operettas, cuplés, tangos, magazines and the so-called Free Theater included 20th century Cuban music, very popular, and other genres.

Carefully renovated on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of La Habana (2019), the Martí theater resurfaced to continue showing the better art, with an admirable splendor. Not far from there, but already in the Central Havana area, very close to the iconic Paseo del Prado, is the Great Theater Alicia Alonso, located in one of the most beautiful architectural palaces in the Cuban capital. It is located where the Theater was located in colonial times Tacon, very famous in the capital, but long gone. Nowadays, and even when it had the name of Great Federico García Lorca Theater, his previous nickname, was the headquarters of the National Ballet of Cuba and the National Opera, activities that it carries out today.

It has been the main venue for all BNC Festivals held, and It is a place almost revered as the cathedral of classical dance in Cuba, with a beautiful story forged by outstanding artists and their audience, which fills it with joy in the presentations.

On the populous commercial Galiano Avenue, whose official name is Avenida de Italia, the Theater of Italy has been shining since its creation in 1941. Varieties América, installed from the beginning in an elegant Art Deco style building, of 10 floors, which also included a modern cinema and apartment complex. America very soon became one of the most glittering lights of the capital when presenting productions of large format musicals, with great style, brilliance and excellent workmanship.

Several genres were played, in addition to Cuban music. Yes indeed, with the charm and professional seal that has been advocated for years to its management team, a tradition in force in good times and bad.

Moving towards the east of the city, we find the largest of all in capacity: the Karl Marx Theater, also among the most sparkling lights of the capital, which is why some have called the one for the great events. Founded in 1949, with another name, which in 1952 became Teatro Blanquita, in areas of First and 10th Avenues, in the exclusive neighborhood of Miramar. After a remodeling and capital expansion, in 1975 it was given its current name, in honor of the great German thinker.

Since then, with a capacity of more than 5,000 seats, it has hosted political events, sectoral level national meetings, to what is most common in everyday life: large concerts, openings and closings of festivals and conferences, interpretation and dance competitions and the presentation of stars of the art from Cuba and the world. The inhabitants of the capital have the belief that “the cream” must be presented at the Karl Marx to consecrate itself.

Last but not least, this list does not mark an order of preeminence, they are all equally great, we present to you to the National Theater of Cuba, inaugurated after a long process of construction in 1979, in an area closely linked to the beautiful Plaza de la Revolución, in the municipality of the same name. Since its inception and today more than ever, the National Theater has served as a large cultural complex, with two prestigious halls, the Avellaneda and Covarrubias, where excellent concerts are presented of classical music and dance, a piano bar, a fabulous garden decorated of sculptures and vegetation, while housing valuable collections of exponents of the plastic arts.

A very integrative whole enriching the human soul.