Orquesta Aragón Plays Two Bogotá Nights on 24 and 25 September 2026 in Colombia
COLOMBIA · LIVE MUSIC
Key Facts
- —What Two concerts by the Cuban charanga orchestra founded in Cienfuegos in 1939.
- —When Thursday 24 and Friday 25 September 2026, at 19:30 Bogotá time. Doors open at 18:30.
- —Where Teatro Colsubsidio Roberto Arias Pérez, Calle 26 number 25-40, Bogotá.
- —Tickets From 99,200 Colombian pesos including fees, about 31 US dollars. Sold through Tuboleta.
- —What a charanga is A Cuban dance band built on violins, flute, piano and percussion, rather than on brass.
Orquesta Aragón brings its violins and wooden flute to the Teatro Colsubsidio for two evenings, in a hall of fewer than a thousand seats.
Two Nights at the Teatro Colsubsidio
Orquesta Aragón plays the Teatro Colsubsidio in Bogotá, Colombia, on 24 and 25 September 2026. Both concerts begin at 19:30 Bogotá time. The venue opens its doors an hour earlier.
The theatre is the Teatro Colsubsidio Roberto Arias Pérez. It stands at Calle 26 number 25-40, on the avenue also called Avenida El Dorado. It opened on 7 May 1981.
The hall holds 994 seats across three levels. These are the platea, the first balcony and the second balcony. The ticketing partner Tuboleta sells seats by level.
Prices run from 99,200 Colombian pesos to 248,000 pesos, service fees included. At the official rate of 3,192.92 pesos to the dollar on 20 September 2026, that is roughly 31 to 78 US dollars.
Who the Orchestra Are
The orchestra was founded in Cienfuegos, on the south coast of Cuba, in 1939. Orestes Aragón Cantero started it. Its first name was Rítmica 39.
It is a charanga. That word describes a Cuban dance band built around violins, a wooden flute, piano and percussion. The sound is lighter and older than the brass-led style most listeners associate with salsa.
Rafael Lay Apesteguía took over the direction in 1949. The classic line-up settled by 1955. The flautist Richard Egües joined, and his five-key wooden flute became the group’s signature.
The band recorded heavily for RCA in the second half of the 1950s. It came to be regarded as one of the leading charangas in Cuba. Outside the island it is known above all for the cha-cha-chá.
The orchestra is still active and based in Havana. Its leadership has passed through several hands since Lay’s death in 1982. The musicians on stage in Bogotá are generations removed from the founders.
Why the Colombian Capital Books Cuban Charanga
Colombia has a long relationship with Cuban dance music. Cali built a salsa culture on records that arrived through the Pacific ports. The capital developed its own listening culture around much of the same repertoire.
The Teatro Colsubsidio programmes across genres. Its 2026 calendar includes tango, flamenco, jazz and classical music. Caribbean acts sit inside that mix rather than apart from it.
The theatre reported more than 70 events and over 75,000 attendances in 2025. Nineteen of those performances sold out. This is a working hall rather than an occasional one.
Two nights for one orchestra is still a modest booking. In a room of 994 seats, two dates mean fewer than 2,000 tickets. Promoters add a second evening when the first moves quickly.
What This Means for Foreign Residents
For newcomers to the city, this is an accessible way into Caribbean music. The repertoire is instrumental for long passages. The sung sections are short and repeat.
The venue is easy to reach. Calle 26 is a main east-west corridor and carries a TransMilenio line. The theatre also has covered parking with direct access to the foyer.
A 19:30 start suits a working evening. The concert should finish well before the city quietens. That matters in a capital where late transport is limited.
Dress is not formal. This is a working theatre rather than a hall with a code. Audiences here sit to listen, even though the music was written for dancing.
What Has Not Been Published
The promoter has not published a set list or a running time. It has not named a support act either. Both evenings are listed only under the orchestra’s name.
The current roster of musicians has not been listed. The group has changed personnel many times since 1939. Readers should not expect the players heard on the recordings of the 1950s.
One detail is confirmed. Tuboleta lists a minimum age of three years for both nights. That is unusually low for an evening concert, and it makes this a realistic family outing.
Readers who want certainty on seating should check the level map before buying. Side seats in the second balcony are the cheapest tier. The view from them is partial in a hall of this shape.
There is also no published statement on whether the two evenings share one programme. Some visiting orchestras vary the running order between dates. Nothing on the ticket page suggests that the two nights differ.
Sources
- Teatro Colsubsidio — official event page
- Tuboleta — official ticket listing with dates, times and prices
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Orquesta Aragón play in Bogotá?
The orchestra plays on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 September 2026. Both concerts start at 19:30 Bogotá time. Doors open at 18:30.
Where is the Teatro Colsubsidio?
It is at Calle 26 number 25-40 in Bogotá. That street is also called Avenida El Dorado. The theatre holds 994 seats across three levels.
How much do tickets cost?
Tuboleta lists prices from 99,200 Colombian pesos to 248,000 pesos, service fees included. At 3,192.92 pesos to the dollar, that is roughly 31 to 78 US dollars. The rate is the official one for 20 September 2026.
What is a charanga?
A charanga is a Cuban dance band built on violins, flute, piano and percussion. It sounds lighter than the brass-led groups most listeners link with salsa. Orquesta Aragón is the best known example.
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