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From the dozens of museums scattered around the city, it's clear Santiaguinos also have a strong love of culture. Music, theater, and other artistic endeavors supplement weekends spent dancing the night away.
Home to the national opera company, Santiago's 19th-century Teatro Municipal also presents excellent classical concert and ballet by internationally recognized artists from March to December. Opened in 1857, it was designed by French architects and has had several major renovations since. The Renaissance-style building hosts one of the city's most refined monuments with a lavish interior that deserves a visit. The cobblestone path around the building completes the picture.
The Coro Sinfónico and the Orquesta Sinfónica, the city's highly regarded chorus and orchestra, perform near Plaza Baquedano at the Centro de Extensión Artistica y Cultura (CEAC) Universidad de Chile. Other functions such as ballet and quartets and solo vocal performances take place throughout the year. This venue is also home to the Ballet Nacional Chileno.
This jazz festival, along with a handful of other open-air concerts, are held in early evenings in summer in the lovely Parque de las Esculturas sculpture park, tucked in between the Mapocho River and Cerro San Cristóbal. Arrive there by walking over the bridge from Pedro de Valdivia.
Movistar Arena, a covered stadium inside Parque O'Higgins, is a frequent venue for concerts by popular singers and groups, principally those on international tours. It seats 12,000, though seats to the side of the stage have poor acoustics.
A national monument, the Teatro Oriente hosts dance, music, and theater for all ages, and special programming for children and senior citizens.
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