Concha Acústica de Ponce

Concha Acústica de Ponce (English: Ponce Acoustic Shell) is an open-air music and performing arts amphitheater venue in Barrio Cuarto, Ponce, Puerto Rico, owned and managed by the Ponce Municipal Government. It is located on the grounds of Parque de la Abolición. The open-air auditorium-amphitheater is used primarily for cultural events. It is open from Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 4:30PM. Concha Acústica, as it is known today (2017), is the result of a 1956 redesign that also included the adjacent Monumento a la abolición de la esclavitud.[3] The original design was augmented by this 1956 redesign/renovation by Francisco Porrata-Doría (1890–1971).[4][5][6]

This article is about the amphitheater. For the statue, see El Hombre Redimido. For the obelisk, see Monumento a la abolición de la esclavitud. For the park, see Parque de la Abolición.

Concha Acústica de Ponce
Concha Acustica de Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC00373)
Concha Acústica de Ponce, seen from the seating area
Former namesTeatro del Parque de la Abolicion
AddressMarina and Salud Streets
LocationPonce, Puerto Rico
Coordinates18°00′22.7874″N 66°36′45.7914″W
OwnerMunicipality of Ponce
TypeAmphitheatre
Genre(s)musical, performing arts, cultural
Seating typeConcrete benches; lawn area
Capacity2,000[1]
Construction
Built1956[2]
Opened1956
Website
www.visitponce.com

Location and features
Map of Parque de la Abolición showing location of the Concha Acústica amphitheater

The amphitheater is located on Avenida Hostos at the fork of Salud Street and Marina Street. It is immediately north of the obelisk commemorating the abolition of slavery, Monumento a la abolición de la exclavitud. Together with the obelisk and the park's shady green lawn area on its north end, Concha Acústica completes the park as a triangular city block. The amphitheater can seat 2,000 people.[7] Seats in the audience portion of the amphitheater consist of long concrete benches, each capable of seating large numbers of people.[8]

The two marble sides of the stage are adorned with six relief sculptures for the six sons of Ponce that have excelled in the musical arts. There are three marble sculptures on each side. On the left side are the sculptures of Juan Morel Campos, Manuel G. Tavarez, and Arístides Chavier; on the right side are those of Antonio Paoli, Julio C. Arteaga, and Juan Ríos Ovalle.

History

In 1874, a year after the abolition of slavery, a group of citizens built a small monument in memory of the historic event. In 1880 Olimpio Otero, Juan Mayoral Barnés, and Román Baldorioty de Castro were instrumental in formalizing the concept for a park dedicated to the commemorating the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico.[9] Juan Mayoral Barnés brought the idea for the creation of the park to the Ponce Municipal Assembly on 14 March 1880. It was unanimously approved by the Assembly, ratified by the Central Government, and confirmed by Royal Decree on 1 March 1881.[10]

The entire triangular area where Concha Acústica now stands was initially only a passive park with green spaces for lawn, flowers, and shade trees. This was the park built in the 1890s.[11] Concha Acústica itself was built in 1956 under the administration of Ponce mayor Andrés Grillasca Salas on part of the same space occupied by the existing park.[12] The architect of the structure was Francisco Porrata Doria, an architect from Ponce.[13]

Uses

Concha Acústica has seen numerous uses throughout the years. On a regular basis, the open-air auditorium has also been used for presentations by the Ponce Municipal Band[14] and the Ponce Jazz Festival.[15]

References
  1. Explore Puerto Rico. By Harry S. Pariser. San Francisco: Manatee Press. Page 244. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  2. Ponce: Informacion para estudiantes. Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  3. Informacion sobre Ponce - Para Estudiantes. Ponce Municipal Government. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  4. Jose A. Reyes Feliciano, Executive Director. Ponce: Tourist Guide. Page 27. Oficina de Fomento Turistico, Industrial y Economico. Municipio Autonomo de Ponce. Casa Alcaldia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 4 January 2017.
  5. Brochure titled Tourist Attractions: Enjoy Ponce, Southern Experience. Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Office of Tourism Development. August 2010.
  6. Recreacion. Oficina de Fomento Turístico. Municipio Autónomo de Ponce. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  7. Explore Puerto Rico. By Harry S. Pariser. San Francisco: Manatee Press. Page 244. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
  8. Concha Acustica de Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC00373). Tito Caraballo. 28 December 2016. Accessed 2 March 2021.
  9. Parque de la Abolición - Commemorating the End of an Era. NewMedia Holdings, Inc. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  10. Verdadera y Auténtica Historia de la Ciudad de Ponce. By Dr. Eduardo Neumann. 1913. (In Spanish) Reprinted by the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (1987). Pages 99-100.
  11. Parque y Obelisco de la abolición de la esclavitud y concha acústica. Archived 5 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Ponce, Ciudad Señorial: Walking Tour. Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  12. Parque y Obelisco de la abolición de la esclavitud y concha acústica. Archived 5 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Ponce, Ciudad Señorial: Walking Tour. Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  13. Tourist Attractions: Enjoy Ponce, Southern Experience. Brochure. Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Office of Tourism Development. August 2010.
  14. Actividades Semana de la Danza 2007 (Domingo 20 de Mayo): Concurso de Baile de Danzas 2007, Concha Acústica del Parque de Abolición de la Esclavitud, Ponce, Puerto Rico. El Hogar de la Danza Puertorriqueña. 2016. Accessed 2 June 2016.
  15. Arranca este viernes Ponce Jazz Fest. Carmen Cila Rodríguez. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 30, Issue 1482. Page 26. 1 May 2013. Accessed 2 June 2016.

Further reading
  • Ni la lluvia frenó al Ponce Jazz Fest. (By Reinaldo Millán. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 30, Issue 1535. Page 26. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.), photo of the Concha Acústica and its amphitheater sections of Abolition Park.
  • Ni la lluvia frenó al Ponce Jazz Fest. Reinaldo Millán. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 30, Issue 1535. Page 26. 1 May 2013. Accessed 2 June 2016. (Photo of the Concha Acústica and its amphitheater sections of Abolition Park.)
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