The square faced by Lisbon’s São Carlos Theater is the stage for some of the city’s most special events this summer. Almost every night at 10PM until the 19th of this month, there will be various musical, dance, and theater performances in the open air, bringing culture to the street and to audiences that don’t usually go to these types of shows. São Carlos is Lisbon’s opera house, but for this festival it presents performances by other cultural institutions such as the national ballet company and the Dona Maria II National Theater. So this weekend the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra will be accompanied by São Carlos’ choir, while all of next week will be dedicated to the performances of the national ballet. From the 16th to the 19th it will be nights of theater, staging three different plays.
This festival is free, all you have to do is walk around Chiado for your ears to lead to São Carlos Theater. There will be seats available, but unless you show up really early, they’ll likely all be taken. Still, you’ll always find standing room to enjoy shows for which you usually have to pay dozens of euros if you wish to see them inside the theater.
If you like the experience, be sure to buy a ticket for São Carlos’ next regular indoor shows, as it is worth seeing the interior of the theater. It’s an 18th century construction filled with rococo decorations inspired by the similar San Carlo in Naples, although the façade resembles Milan’s La Scala.
For more details about the outdoor festival, see its official website: www.festivalaolargo.com