The absolute 2010 highlight!!

After 18 years
The reopening of the Petruzzelli Theatre in Bari, one of the grandest Opera Houses in Italy

In the night of 27th October 1991, a terrible fire destroyed the Theatre just after the curtains had closed on Bellini’s Norma.
Ever since the opening night on February 14, 1903 Teatro Petruzzelli has been the cradle to many of the great operas, host to many famous singers and prestigious ballet performances.
Tenors Mario Del Monaco, Alfredo Kraus,Beniamino Gigli,soprano Renata Tebaldi and baritone Renato Bruson,are just some of the legendary artists to have graced its stage.

In the 1970s and 1980s, under the artistic direction of Carlo Vitale,whose invaluable work earned to Teatro Petruzzelli the qualification of “teatro di tradizione”, the theatre became the setting for some of the finest opera performances of national and international renown: Piccinni’s Ifigenia in Tauride, directed by Luca Ronconi and later staged at the glorious Châtelet theatre in Paris;Bellini’s first version of I Puritani, written for the famous Spanish singer Maria Malibran, accompanied by the Palermo Symphony Orchestra led by Pierluigi Pizzi. These were also the years of memorable performances by celebrated ballet companies such as Maurice Béjart and Roland Petit’s and by famed voices such as tenors Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and José Carreras, and sopranos Katia Ricciarelli, Raina Kabaivanska and Cecilia Gasdia.
The completely restored Opera House has undergone a complete restoration work in recent years and has emerged as glowing jewel from a bygone era perfectly equipped to serve the most demanding audiences of the 21st century.

Apr 7,9,11 CENERENTOLA Cond. E. Pidò, Dir. D. Abbado 

May 14,15,16,18,19 THE SWANLAKE Bolshoi Dance Company

May 18,20,22 SIGFRIDO Cond. S. A. Reck

Sep 26,27,28,29,30 IL TABARRO – CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA

Oct 29,30,31 LA TRAVIATA

2011 Season
Starting from Dec 6, 2010
with NORMA

To secure your seats, PLEASE contact us at your earliest convenience

To be ideally combined with:
• Teatro dell’Opera in Rome
• Teatro San Carlo in Naples, the first opera house in Europe, well known for its magnificent architecture and excellent productions. The theatre has been restored in the past months and brought back to its original splendour
• Sicily:
Palermo, Teatro Massimo
Catania, Teatro Bellini
Messina, Teatro Vittorio Emanuele
and Cagliari, Teatro Lirico

• New, original contents to set your
tours apart from the rest.

• Attractive cultural programmes ideally combined with gourmet breaks,
visits to private historic palaces and secret gardens hosted by the owners.
We also arrange lectures, concerts in enchanting settings, backstage visits,
cocktail receptions and special gala dinners.

• Our appealing proposals carefully select the finest in Italian food and wine
as we are always on the lookout for the latest food & cooking trends and restaurants,
though emphasizing the genuine and traditional cuisine.
• Authentic Italian culture and lifestyle.

BARI
The South, one of the most picturesque area's Italy has to offer.
Bari is the capital city of Apulia on the AdriAtic Sea, a land rich in history,
art and tradition. It’s considered to be the second economic centre of mainland
Southern Italy and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the
city of Saint Nicholas. The beautiful landscape, the architectonic styles
of the modern city and the unique trademarks of the closely built old town
on the peninsula are just a few of the unforgettable sites Bari has to offer.
Merion is pleased to offer special and unique programmes, the most exclusive
way to discover the enchanting Apulia and its magic atmosphere.

TAILOR DESIGNED ITINERARIES COMBINING DIFFERENT OPERAS,
CONCERTS, EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS ALL OVER ITALY

PRIVILEGED ACCESS TO THE BEST
SEATS FOR THE ABSOLUTE HIGHLIGHTS