Colombia’s Opera Company Turns 50 With a Gala in Bogotá

COLOMBIA · OPERA

The Ópera de Colombia gala celebrates the company’s 50 years with famous arias by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini and Bizet.

The Ópera de Colombia marks its 50th anniversary with a gala concert in Bogotá, Colombia, on Saturday 3 October 2026. The concert starts at 8 p.m. Bogotá time at the Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo. Tickets cost COP 30,000 to COP 90,000, about US$9 to US$28, through Tuboleta.

Fifty years of opera in Colombia

The Ópera de Colombia was founded in 1976. Its founder was Gloria Zea, then head of Colcultura, the national culture institute. Singer Francisco Vergara, a member of the Cologne Opera in Germany, helped her bring European artists to Bogotá.

Opera was little known in Colombia at the time. The company closed in 1986 under the government of President Virgilio Barco. Zea reopened it in 1991, according to the Bogotá newspaper El Nuevo Siglo.

By 2016 the company had staged 45 operas by 20 composers in about 830 performances. It had also launched more than 150 Colombian soloists. The gala honours the artists, technicians, sponsors and audiences behind that history.

What the programme includes

The Teatro Mayor has published a full programme. It opens with the overture to Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro”. The first half continues with “O mio babbino caro” by Puccini and “Casta Diva” from Bellini’s “Norma”.

Bizet’s “Carmen” follows with the Habanera and the Toreador song. Verdi closes the first half with “Sempre libera” from “La traviata” and the chorus “Va, pensiero” from “Nabucco”. An interval follows.

The second half includes “E lucevan le stelle” from Puccini’s “Tosca” and the Barcarolle from Offenbach’s “The Tales of Hoffmann”. It ends with Mozart duets, including “Papageno, Papagena!” from “The Magic Flute”.

Who is on stage

The guest soloists are Venezuelan mezzo-soprano Carolina Camacho and Colombian tenor Eduardo Díaz. Luis Fernando Madrid conducts. Sopranos Gabriela Tello, Beatriz Mora and Daniela Reyes and baritone Camilo Mendoza also sing.

The orchestra is the youth orchestra of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá, the city’s public symphony orchestra. The Coro de la Ópera de Bogotá sings the choral pieces. Ballet Studio Bogotá dances during the “Carmen” section.

Two winners of the Filarmónica’s Ciudad Lírica singing prize also appear. They are baritone Julián Usamá and soprano María Paula Quintero. The mix of young and experienced singers reflects the company’s training role.

Tickets and prices

Tuboleta, a Colombian ticket company, sells the tickets online and for the theatre. Prices include the service charge. The stalls, called “platea”, cost COP 60,000 to COP 90,000, about US$19 to US$28.

The first balcony costs COP 50,000 to COP 60,000, and the second balcony and upper “Balcón Mayor” cost COP 50,000, about US$16. Partial-view seats on the second and third floors cost COP 30,000, about US$9. Only 20 such seats exist.

Conversions use a rate of about 3,170 pesos per US dollar on 22 September 2026. Foreign cards may be charged at a slightly different rate. The theatre asks the audience to arrive early, because it will not admit latecomers.

The Teatro Mayor and how to get there

The Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo opened on 26 May 2010. It is part of a cultural centre with a public library, designed by Colombian architect Daniel Bermúdez. It has a main hall and a smaller Teatro Estudio.

A public-private partnership runs it. Partners include the Bogotá mayor’s office, the Santo Domingo family, Caracol Televisión and Cine Colombia. The gala takes place in the main hall.

The theatre is at Calle 170 No. 67-51 in the north of Bogotá, far from the historic centre. Traffic can be heavy on a Saturday evening. Many visitors use a taxi or ride-hailing app and allow extra time.

Practical tips for the evening

Bogotá lies at about 2,600 metres (8,500 feet) above sea level. Evenings are cool, often below 15 degrees Celsius (59 Fahrenheit), and October is one of the rainier months. Bring a jacket and an umbrella.

The theatre has not published a running time or minimum age for this gala. The programme includes one interval. There is no formal dress code; many people wear smart casual clothes.

After the show, book your ride home from inside the building. Waiting in a lit area near the entrance is the calm, usual choice in Bogotá at night.

Why the anniversary matters

Opera in Colombia has grown in cycles, with strong decades and a five-year closure. The company’s survival depended on public funding, private sponsors and a steady audience.

The Teatro Mayor has coproduced full operas with the company, such as “The Barber of Seville”. This link between a public-private theatre and a lyric company has helped give Bogotá a regular opera season.

For expats and visitors, the gala offers an accessible first night at the opera. Well-known arias, a clear programme and moderate prices make it easy to try, even for people new to the art form.

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FAQ

When and where is the Ópera de Colombia 50th anniversary gala?

The gala is on Saturday 3 October 2026 at 8 p.m. Bogotá time. It takes place in the main hall of the Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo, Calle 170 No. 67-51. Latecomers will not be admitted.

How much are tickets for the gala?

Tickets cost COP 30,000 to COP 90,000, about US$9 to US$28, including the service charge. The COP 30,000 seats have a partial view. Tuboleta sells the tickets.

Do I need to understand Italian or know opera?

No. The programme is a selection of famous arias and choruses, each only a few minutes long. Reading a short summary of each opera before the show can add to the experience.

How do I get to the Teatro Mayor?

The theatre is in the north of Bogotá, far from the historic centre. A taxi or ride-hailing app is the simplest option. Allow extra time for Saturday evening traffic.

Sources: Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo – Gran gala event page · Tuboleta – Teatro Mayor programme and tickets · El Nuevo Siglo – La Ópera colombiana, 40 años · Ópera Latinoamérica – Teatro Mayor at ten years