Sala São Paulo
Centro
Fodor's choice
Despite being housed in a magnificent old train station, Sala São Paulo is one of the most modern concert halls for classical music in Latin America. It's home to the São Paulo Symphony (OSESP).
6 Best Performing Arts Venues in São Paulo, Brazil
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The world's top orchestras, opera and dance companies, and other troupes always include São Paulo in their South American tours. Many free concerts—with performances by either Brazilian or international artists—are presented on Sunday in Parque Ibirapuera. City-sponsored events are frequently held in Centro's Vale do Anhangabaú area or in Avenida Paulista.
The Centro Cultural São Paulo near Paraíso metro and an ample network of Serviço Social do Comércio (SESC) cultural centers feature inexpensive dance, theater, and musical performances daily. Listings of events appear in the "Veja São Paulo" insert of the newsweekly Veja. The arts sections of the dailies Folha de São Paulo and O Estado de São Paulo also have listings and reviews. Both papers publish a weekly guide on Friday. The Portuguese-language website Catraca Livre (catracalivre.com.br/brasil) is the authority on free entertainment options.
Tickets for many events are available through the Ingresso Rápido, Ingresso, and Tickets for Fun websites. Many of these venues and sites offer ticket delivery to your hotel for a surcharge.
Credicard Hall
Santo Amaro
One of the biggest theaters in São Paulo, Credicard Hall can accommodate up to 7,000 people. The venue frequently hosts concerts by famous Brazilian and international artists. Tickets can be bought by phone or online through Tickets for Fun.
Teatro Alfa
Santo Amaro
International musicals and ballet, as well as occasional musical performances, are held at Teatro Alfa, which seats more than a thousand people. The sound and lighting technology are top of the line. Tickets can be bought by phone and through Ingresso Rápido, then picked up a half hour before the performance.
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Teatro da Universidade Católica (TUCA)
Perdizes
The Catholic University theater hosts plays and alternative concerts.
Theatro Municipal
Centro
Inspired by the Paris Opéra, the Municipal Theater was built between 1903 and 1911 with art nouveau elements. Hamlet was the first play presented, and the house went on to host such luminaries as Isadora Duncan in 1916 and Anna Pavlova in 1919. Plays and operas are still staged here; local newspapers, as well as the theater's website, have schedules and information on how to get tickets. The auditorium, resplendent with gold leaf, moss-green velvet, marble, and mirrors, has 1,500 seats and is usually open only to those attending cultural events, although prearranged visits are also available. A museum dedicated to the theater's history is located close by at Praça das Artes. Call the theater to arrange a free guided tour in English.
Theatro São Pedro
Barra Funda
Built in the neoclassical style in 1917, São Paulo's second-oldest theater is one of its best venues for chamber concerts and operas. Free morning events take place on Sunday and Wednesday.
