Impresario
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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An Impresario, from the Italian impresa, an enterprise or undertaking,<ref name="ImpresarioImpressa">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.</ref> 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<ref name="CraigThomas">Template:Cite news</ref> and even rodeo.<ref name="TimeRodeo1937">Template:Cite news</ref> It is sometimes misspelled "impressario."
The term may also be used to refer to anyone who takes a leading role in organizing or orchestrating events, such as curators of art museums,<ref name="TimeWhitney">Template:Cite news</ref> web producers or the organisers of academic or business conferences.
Jacques-Yves Cousteau said of himself that he was "an impresario of scientists,"<ref>Jacques-Yves Cousteau on Bartleby.com</ref> in his role as an explorer and filmmaker working with scientists in underwater exploration.
Famous impresarios
- Philip Henslowe (1550-1616)
- Richard D'Oyly Carte (1844-1901)
- Ernesto de Quesada (1886-196?)
- Sol Hurok (1888-1974)
- Aaron Richmond (1895-1965)
- Raymond Gubbay (b. 1946)