Sala São Paulo is a classical music concert hall in the heart of São Paulo city. An old railway station building was renovated to turn it into this concert hall, so it is of historical value. The building was constructed between 1926 and 1938 as the Júlio Prestes railway station, so while its main structure was left intact, the interior was converted into a modern musical concert hall. Renovation began in 1997, and it opened as a cultural center in 1999. Sala São Paulo is inside the cultural center.
Sala São Paulo has about 1,498 seats. The design includes 22 balconies and a ceiling about 24 meters high. The stage has plenty of depth and width, which allows for performances by choirs and large orchestras. Large instruments like pianos are moved on and off stage with an elevator. The stage machinery, lighting, and acoustic control equipment are all top-class.
The orchestra that performs at Sala São Paulo is the internationally acclaimed São Paulo Symphony Orchestra (Osesp), which uses Sala São Paulo as its base.
Being located in downtown São Paulo, I have often heard that it's better to take a taxi, or that people are nervous going to and from Sala São Paulo because the surrounding area is not safe, especially at night. Because of that, a 210-meter-long passageway was constructed in March 2022 to connect the building that houses Sala São Paulo to Luz Station. You enter from the back of the building without passing along the street at the front, which makes it safer. I got off the subway at Luz station, headed to Luz train station, and from there I used the passageway. It has a glass ceiling, so walking under it on a sunny day must be pleasant, and on a rainy day, you stay dry. I also used the passageway after the concert, but it was well-lit and safe.
Looking at the building from the outside, you really get the feeling that you’re in Europe. Once inside, wherever you look, whether at the ceilings, windows, columns, and so on, everything is gorgeous, quite fascinating. On the way to the Sala São Paulo hall, there are cafes and shops selling things like souvenirs and books. They also had models of the building and the concert hall.
Once you’re inside Sala São Paulo, you can’t help noticing how excellent the renovation was, with the latest technology being integrated into this historic building. The ceiling panels can be raised and lowered depending on the concert, which has attracted high praise for the acoustics.
The day I went, I saw “Deixa eu dançar” (“Let Me Dance”) by Osesp and The Studio3 Dance Company. It featured an orchestra with dance, and it was wonderful. It was a precious time that made me genuinely happy.
You can go to free concerts at Sala São Paulo on Sunday mornings. Occasionally, you can also see special programs, also for free. Guided tours of the entire building are available too, so if you’re interested, I recommend regularly checking their website.
