Hurok, Sol

Hurok, Sol

▪ Russian impresario
born April 9, 1888, Pogar, near Kharkov, Russia
died March 5, 1974, New York City

      one of the world's foremost impresarios who, through his persistent efforts to bring distinguished foreign virtuosos and ensembles to American audiences, did much to inspire interest in classical music and, particularly, in ballet.

      Hurok came to the United States in 1906, nearly penniless. (He was naturalized in 1914.) He took a series of odd jobs and began arranging concerts for labour organizations. In 1911 he persuaded the violinist Efrem Zimbalist to play at a benefit for the Socialist Party, and by 1916 he was staging concerts at the New York Hippodrome with such virtuosos as Mischa Elman and Alma Gluck. Eventually, Hurok sponsored a vast array of artistic performers and distinguished companies, many of them from his native Russia. Through him, many Americans came to appreciate the Bolshoi Ballet, Sadler's Wells (later Royal) Ballet, the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, the Kirov (now Mariinsky) Ballet, the Old Vic, the Comédie Française, and such stars as Anna Pavlova, Feodor Chaliapin, Isadora Duncan, Arthur Rubinstein, Michel Fokine, Andrés Segovia, Isaac Stern, Gregor Piatigorsky, the Oistrakhs, Margot Fonteyn, Galina Ulanova, Maria Callas, and Van Cliburn. More than 4,000 performers are said to have appeared under his auspices. One of his greatest discoveries and future stars was the contralto Marian Anderson, whom he heard singing in Paris in 1935. He was also known for his great sense of showmanship, style, and lavish treatment of his performers.

      In 1969 he sold his company, S. Hurok Concerts, Inc., to the Transcontinental Investing Corp., although he remained in control and actively promoted concerts until his death.

      He wrote two volumes of autobiography—Impresario (1946; movie version Tonight We Sing, 1953). He was made a chevalier of the Legion of Honour (1953) for his achievements in promoting French cultural institutions.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Hurok, Sol — (1888 1974)    American impresario, of Russian origin. He arrived in New York at the age of 16. He became the leading American impresario for foreign cultural productions, particularly in the field of ballet …   Dictionary of Jewish Biography

  • Hurok, Sol(omon Isiaevich) — born April 9, 1888, Pogar, near Kharkov, Russia died March 5, 1974, New York, N.Y., U.S. Russian born U.S. impresario. He went to the U.S. in 1905 and in 1913 inaugurated the concert series Music for the Masses, which led to his representing many …   Universalium

  • Hurok, Sol(omon Isiaevich) — (9 abr. 1888, Pogar, cerca de Járkov, Rusia–5 mar. 1974, Nueva York, N.Y. EE.UU.). Empresario estadounidense de origen ruso. En 1905 emigró a EE.UU. y en 1913 inauguró la serie de conciertos Música para las masas. Esta última actividad lo llevó a …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Sol Hurok — (Solomon Isiaevich Hurok; born Solomon Izrailevich Gurkov, Russian Соломон Израилевич Гурков) (April 9, 1888, Ukraine March 5, 1974, New York City) was a world famous 20th century American impresario.cite web |url=… …   Wikipedia

  • HUROK, SOLOMON — (Sol; 1888–1974), U.S. impresario. Born in Pogar, Russia, Hurok went to the U.S. in 1906 and four years later began his managerial activities by organizing concerts in a Brooklyn community center. In 1916 he was introduced to ballerina Anna… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Hurok — noun United States impresario who was born in Russia (1888 1974) • Syn: ↑Sol Hurok, ↑Solomon Hurok • Instance Hypernyms: ↑showman, ↑promoter, ↑impresario * * * /hyoor ok/ or, often, /yoor /, n. Sol(omon) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sol Hurok — noun United States impresario who was born in Russia (1888 1974) • Syn: ↑Hurok, ↑Solomon Hurok • Instance Hypernyms: ↑showman, ↑promoter, ↑impresario …   Useful english dictionary

  • Hurok, Solomon (Sol) — (1890–1974)    US impresario. Arriving in New York from Russia at the age of sixteen, Hurok became the leading American impresario for foreign cultural productions, especially in the field of ballet. He sponsored, among others, the United States… …   Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament

  • Hurok,Solomon — Hur·ok (hyo͝orʹŏk ), Solomon. Known as “Sol.” 1888 1974. Russian born American impresario who sponsored a number of concert series in New York City. * * * …   Universalium

  • Hurok — /hyoor ok/ or, often, /yoor /, n. Sol(omon), 1888 1974, U.S. impresario, born in Russia. * * * …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”