For the Mozart opera, "The Impresario", see Der Schauspieldirektor.
Impresario, from the Italian impresa, an enterprise or undertaking,[1] is a traditional term still very much in use in the entertainment industry for a manager or producer of concerts, tours and other events in music, opera, theatre[2] and even rodeo.[3] It is sometimes misspelled ‘impressario.’ The term may be applied to others who take a leading role in orchestrating events,[4] such as curators of art museums, web producers or the organisers of academic or business conferences. Jacques-Yves Cousteau said of himself that he was “an impresario of scientists”[5] in his role as an explorer and filmmaker who worked with scientists in underwater exploration.
Famous impresarios
The list is ordered chronologically by year of birth.
- Philip Henslowe (1550 - 1616)
- Emanuel Schikaneder (1751 - 1812)
- Richard D'Oyly Carte (1844 - 1901)
- Alfred Schulz-Curtius (1850s - 1910s)
- Robert Newman (1858 - 1926)
- Sergei Diaghilev (1872-1929)
- Fortune Gallo (1878 - 1970)
- Ernesto de Quesada (1886 - 1972)
- Sol Hurok (1888 - 1974)
- Aaron Richmond (1895 - 1965)
- Vivian Van Damm (1895 - 1960)
- Rudolf Bing (1902 - 1997)
- Ian Hunter (1919 - 2003)
- Raymond Gubbay (b. 1946)
References
- ^ Impresario: A person who organises and often finances concerts, plays or operas. ORIGIN: mid 18th century, from Italian impresa, ‘undertaking.’ New Oxford American Dictionary.
Impresa: enterprise; deed; company. Mondadori's Pocket Italian • English / English • Italian Dictionary. - ^ Craig Thomas (13 July 2001). Private Triumph. (html). Asia Week.
- ^ Broadway Rodeo. (html). Time (18 October 1937).
- ^ New Impresario for the Showcase. (html). Time (24 November 1967).
- ^ Jacques-Yves Cousteau on Bartleby.com
