The Petruzzelli Theater of Bari it was built starting in 1898. The city needed to equip itself with a larger structure than the pre-existing "Teatro Piccinni", inaugurated in 1854. The limited capacity of the latter, in fact, did not allow it to accommodate the staging of the opera "Cavalleria Rusticana" by Pietro Mascagni, a success that established itself on the national scene in 1890. To solve the problem, the municipal council of the time undertook to assign 12 thousand lire, and the necessary land, to the company that had declared its willingness to build a new and more spacious building, on the terms and in the manner provided.

the theater seen from above

The Petruzzelli brothers

The project for the new theater was presented by the brothers Onofrio and Antonio Petruzzelli, two merchants and shipowners of Trieste origin. They submitted to the municipal administration the design edited by their brother-in-law, the engineer from Bari Angelo Cicciomessere (later became Messeni). The project was approved in 1895, but the works began only three years later, on May 23, 1898. The Petruzzelli was inaugurated on February 14, 1903, with the work “Gli Ugonotti”, by Giacomo Meyerbeer. The theater, which stands imposingly on Corso Cavour, has a late-liberty style facade. Frescoed inside by the Bari painter Raffaele Armenise, is decorated in pure gold. Immediately equipped with heating and electric light, it initially had 2.192 seats, which were then resized.

theater, orchestra

Important stage

The theater began to host the greatest tenors of the time, along with the largest international opera events. When the city, with the arrival of the war and the fall of fascism, became the seat of the allied forces, the Petruzzelli was occupied by the Anglo-American army. During this period, the film “Stardust” was presented at the theater. It was here that many scenes of the successful film with Alberto Sordi and Monica Vitti were set. In 1954 it was declared a "Monument of historical and artistic interest" and, in 1973, "Theater of tradition". Later it welcomed the greatest ballet companies and singers of the caliber of Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli, Raina Kabaivanska, Cecilia Gasdia, Giorgio Gaber.

the facade

The 1991 fire

After this long period of splendor, the theater experienced the blackest page of its history on the night of October 27, 1991. The spotlight had just turned off on Bellini's Norma when an arson attack destroyed it. The fire completely enveloped the stage, damaged the stalls and brought down the tempered glass dome frescoed by Armenise. The disastrous event was a severe blow for the whole city and a real tragedy for the world of music and art. A long restoration followed which ended in December 2009. The Petruzzelli was finally returned to the city of Bari. It was rebuilt as it was before the fire but with avant-garde structures from the point of view of safety and technology.

theater, The golden rooster

“The golden rooster”, on stage these days

In these days, the theater is hosting, for the first time in Bari, "The Golden Rooster" by Nikolaj Rimskij-Korsakov. The Fantastic Opera, in a prologue, two acts and an epilogue, is based on “The Tale of the Golden Rooster” by Aleksandr Pushkin, written in 1834. The orchestra and choir of the Theater are conducted by Yevgeny Brazhnik. Directed by Dmitry Bertman. The sets and costumes are by Ene-Liis Semper. Thomas Hase's lighting design. The choreography of Edwald Smirnov. The protagonists are: Mikhail Guznov, perfect in the role of Tsar Dodon; Lidiya Svetozarova, charming in the Tsarina of Semacha; Ivan Volkov, the charismatic astrologer. The next performances are scheduled for Tuesday 16 at 20.30 and Wednesday 17 at 18. Petruzzelli, which is the fourth largest Italian theater, this month will also host the ballet "4 seasons - where the heart takes you". Written and directed by Giuliano Peparini, it will star the étoile Eleonora Abbagnato.

(Photo Petruzzelli Theater Foundation Facebook page, ph Clarissa Lapolla)

The Petruzzelli Theater, temple of music, symbol of Bari last edit: 2021-11-15T09:00:00+01:00 da Antonietta Malito

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