Next Friday, August 16, President Luis Abinader Corona will be sworn in for his second presidential term in the Dominican Republic. The Eduardo Brito National Theater has been chosen for the occasion, given the number of guests who will attend the ceremony.
This is the first time a Dominican president will be sworn in at this building, which was inaugurated on August 16, 1973, by then-President Joaquín Balaguer. Traditionally, heads of state are sworn in at the National Congress.
The construction of the National Theater of Santo Domingo, as it was initially called, was authorized by Balaguer, who appointed the architect Teófilo Carbonell, a professional who traveled through Europe, Latin American countries and North America, observing and studying the best theaters in the world.
The architect Carbonell organized his trip based on an intelligent working formula: observing in each theater visited those things that had not been resolved effectively and, above all, talking to the technicians who worked directly linked to the stage, since they are the ones who know perfectly which solution used is effective and which is not.
Carbonell conceived the design of a theater that, within the available budget, would embody in its dimensions, style, and elements the best and most advanced global techniques for constructing such a facility—an undeniable and authentic Dominican identity. Thus, the theater materialized into a monumental piece of architecture.
The construction, which lasted approximately three years, was very difficult due to the complexity of the work, and was done using Dominican materials, where marble, mahogany, plaster and onyx predominate.
Every step of its execution was directed by the architect Carbonell, who had the collaboration of the structural engineers William Read and Juan Manuel Bonetti.
The National Theater was inaugurated on August 16, 1973. That day marked the beginning of the Inaugural Festival, with a program that included theater, opera, and ballet, among other artistic genres. The building was named after Eduardo Brito in 2006, by presidential decree, to honor the memory of the emblematic Dominican baritone.
Its three halls host renowned figures from world and native art, in music, dance and theater, as well as admired groups of the most diverse formations.
The main hall, named after Carlos Piantini, is located in the center of the theater and has a capacity of 1,589 people, making it the largest hall in the National Theater. The orchestra level can accommodate 918 people; the balcony, 589; and the boxes, 82, according to Wikipedia.
The hall's natural acoustics were designed by combining several factors: 120 wooden panels, suspended from the ceiling, reflect sound and are known within the institution as "the red clouds of the main hall." Two lateral towers on the stage and mahogany-clad walls further contribute to the ideal acoustics for various artistic performances, as Wikipedia points out.
The stage has 50 rigging bars; it measures 58 feet wide by 68 feet long, ample enough space for approximately 250 people on stage. In front of the stage is the orchestra pit, which can accommodate 120 musicians.
Its halls have hosted some of the greatest figures in world art, representing all its forms. The majestic building, surrounded by beautiful gardens and green spaces, stands on the west side of Juan Pablo Duarte Cultural Plaza in Santo Domingo.
Source: Official website of the National Theatre
Wikipedia.
