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Abstract: OPERA IN THE ROMAN PUBLIC THEATERS IN THE FIRST HALF OF SEVENTEENTH CENTURY: DOCUMENTARY AND MUSICAL SOURCES This article attempts to identify which sources are useful in reconstructing various aspects of the history of opera in the Roman public theaters during the first half of the seventeenth century, by evaluating the consistency and validity of these sources. The sources fall into four main categories: archives, diaries, librettos and music. Archive (deeds under the seal of notaries, family archives) and diary sources help us reconstruct the organization of the activities of the theaters, as well as events relating to their construction, ownership and management. This type of information can often also be found in the dedications of librettos. Librettos usually yield information on the authors of poetry and musica, on singers and collaboratos, while archives are the best source on the singers’ fees. Musical sources, which are quite limited in comparison to the others, are useful to ascertain the characteristics of the type of music played in Roman theaters in the early eighteenth century.