The Palacio de Bellas Artes ("Palace of Fine Arts") is an opera house in Mexico City. It was designed by the Italian architect Adamo Boari in 1901 but construction was not completed until 1934.
The building is famous for both its extravagant Art Nouveau exterior in imported Italian white marble as well as its murals by Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and José Clemente Orozco
(Rivera's "Man in Control of the Universe" (or "Man at the Crossroads") mural was originally painted for the Rockefeller Center in New York City but Rockefeller ordered it destroyed for being too radical. Rivera repainted it here in 1934.)
The theater is used for classical music, opera and dance, notably the Ballet Folklórico. Maria Callas sang in several productions at the Palacio early in her career, and recordings exist of several of her performances here.
The Palacio has two museums: the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Museo de la Arquitectura. Metro Bellas Artes is located alongside.
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Another view showing the building during restoration work for the dome which was completed in 2004.
Last updated: 10-14-2005 20:42:34
