Of the four best concert halls in the world from the point of view of impeccable acoustics, only one occupies a train station. The Sala São Paulo (Praça Júlio Prestes, Luz, tel. 11/3223-3966, www.salasaopaulo.art.br [1]) is inside the grand hall of the restored Estação Júlio Prestes, an 1920s-era station whose interior, designed in Louis XVI-style, is both sober and grandiose.
The auditorium roof is made from wooden panels that can be positioned to enhance the quality of whatever type of music is being played. The sala is the headquarters of OSESP (São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra).
If you can’t catch a performance, guided visits are available (tel. 11/3367-9573, 1 and 4 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 1:30 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., R$5, free Sat.).
Links:
[1] http://www.salasaopaulo.art.br