Il barbiere di Siviglia at Teatro Petruzzelli Bari: evening guide
A count in love who disguises himself as a poor student, then as a drunken soldier, then as a music teacher. A jealous guardian who locks the girl in the house. And in the middle a barber who seems to know everyone's business and makes fun of them all.
If you have never seen it on stage, Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) is one of the easiest works to follow even for those without much opera experience. In December it returns to Teatro Petruzzelli in a new production directed by someone at home on film.
What it is, in two words
Rossini wrote it for the Rome audience in 1816. It is a comic opera in two acts with libretto by Cesare Sterbini, drawn from Beaumarchais' 1775 comedy. Inside is everything that makes a comedy work: disguises, misunderstandings, a letter mixed up with a laundry list, a storm and a happy ending.
Many of the melodies you already know, even without knowing it: Figaro's cavatina, Largo al factotum, has turned up everywhere, from adverts to cartoons.
Who is staging it
The Petruzzelli announces on its website:
- conductor: Stefano Montanari
- director: Daniele Luchetti
- sets: Alessandro Camera
- costumes: Massimo Cantini Parrini
- lighting: Marco Filibeck
- Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Petruzzelli, chorus master Marco Medved
There are two casts of singers, who alternate. On the evenings of 16, 18, 20 and 22 December Santiago Ballerini (Count Almaviva), Chiara Amarù (Rosina), Rodion Pogossov (Figaro), Omar Montanari (Don Bartolo) and Carlo Lepore (Don Basilio) sing. On 17 and 19 December there are Valery Makarov, Giuseppina Bridelli, Matteo Mancini, Pierpaolo Martella and Tiziano Rosati. Berta is Giulia Mazzola and Fiorello Stefano Marchisio at all performances.
The dates, with days of the week
- Wednesday 16 December 2026, 8:30pm
- Thursday 17 December, 8:30pm
- Friday 18 December, 8:30pm
- Saturday 19 December, 6:00pm
- Sunday 20 December, 6:00pm
- Tuesday 22 December, 6:00pm
17 and 19 are marked as 'outside subscription': evenings for those without a subscription. For those who prefer not to go out in the evening, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday begin at 6:00pm.
Before the performance: the talk on 10 December
Thursday 10 December at 7:00pm, in the theatre foyer, Ilaria Narici and Sergio Ragni present the opera. It is one of the Talks on Opera events: a chance to understand what you are about to see before sitting down in the hall. Entry costs a symbolic 2 euros, with tickets at the box office and on Vivaticket. The theatre writes that the meetings are also streamed on its Facebook and Instagram pages.
It works equally well for opera lovers and newcomers: arriving at Il barbiere already familiar with the characters makes the evening more relaxed.
How to organise yourself
Tickets are sold at the box office at Corso Cavour 12 (Monday 10–14, Tuesday to Saturday 11–19; hours on performance days are on the website) or online through Vivaticket. Individual ticket prices are not shown on the pages we consulted: you will find them on the theatre website when buying. The box office telephone is 080 975 2810.
A tip from locals: in December the centre is full, with shopping and Christmas lights. The Petruzzelli is in the heart of Murat, the nineteenth-century chequerboard district, with streets made for walking. If you are coming from out of town, it is worth arriving with some time to spare and leaving your car outside the centre, or using public transport.
In the district, before and after
With 6:00pm performances you have time for a relaxed dinner after the show; for the 8:30pm ones you can allow yourself an aperitif before. In both cases Murat allows you to walk to the seafront and the old town.
It is also an area that many choose to live in precisely because theatres, shops and the station are within walking distance. It often happens that those who come to Bari for a concert notice how convenient it is.
For whom is it suited
- For those who have never seen an opera: it is a comedy, and the story follows even without knowledge of the libretto language.
- For those going as a family: the afternoon performances on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday are more convenient with children.
- For enthusiasts: two different casts and a new production are a good reason to return twice.
If you are thinking of living in this part of Bari, you can look at the properties available or get in touch with us: we can tell you how life is in Murat all year round, not just in December.
Dates, times and locations verified on official websites on 3 October 2026: they may change, check before purchasing tickets.
