Teatro Empire, Art Deco theater in Balvanera, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Teatro Empire is located at Hipólito Yrigoyen 1934 and displays an Art Deco facade with five window sections separated by pilasters and three main entrances. The building originally shared space with the La Fraternidad union headquarters on its upper floors.
The La Fraternidad union building, designed by Jorge Sabaté in Art Deco style, was inaugurated on 20 June 1934 with a gala performance featuring Gloria Kazda, Azucena Maizani and Camila and Fernando Quiroga. For some years the hall served as the auditorium of LR3 Radio Belgrano, then run by Jaime Yankelevich. After a period closed to the public, the company of Carlos Mathus and Antonio Leiva took over the theatre in 1997; after their deaths, César Mathus assumed its direction.
The foyer walls carry friezes by Daniel Ortolani and Adolfo Montero depicting the history of transport in Argentina, from early vehicles to the railway age. The building belonged to La Fraternidad, the railway workers' union, which explains the subject: the entrance relief above the central door reads "La Fraternidad".
The venue hosts regular programming including opera, independent theater, ballet, and musical concerts throughout the year. Tickets are available directly at the box office for most performances.
The building hosted celebrated international performers like Josephine Baker and Maurice Chevalier who performed on its stage. These star appearances helped establish it as a key entertainment destination in Buenos Aires.
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