Impresario – A Memoir – S. Hurok (in collaboration with Ruth Goode)

Title: Impresario – A Memoir

Author: S. Hurok (in collaboration with Ruth Goode)

Publisher: Random House

Edition & Year: First Edition, 1946

Pages: 290

Format & Size: Hardcover, 6 in x 9.5 in

First published in 1946 by Random House, Impresario – A Memoir is the autobiography of Sol Hurok (1888–1974), the legendary concert promoter who reshaped the global performing arts landscape. Written in collaboration with Ruth Goode, this memoir provides a vivid account of Hurok’s extraordinary career and his role in bringing world-class performers to audiences across America.

Born in Ukraine, Hurok immigrated to the United States in 1906, where he rose from modest beginnings to become the most influential impresario of his time. In Impresario – A Memoir, he recounts his experiences managing and presenting some of the greatest artists of the 20th century, including Anna Pavlova, Marian Anderson, Andrés Segovia, Isaac Stern, Feodor Chaliapin, and many others. Hurok’s narrative is filled with personal anecdotes, behind-the-scenes stories, and reflections on the challenges of cultural promotion in an era of war, social change, and evolving artistic trends.

The book is not only a memoir of an impresario’s life but also a historical document that captures the vibrancy of the performing arts in the first half of the 20th century. Hurok’s contributions helped popularize ballet, classical music, and opera in the United States, and his belief that “the arts are for everyone” remains a lasting legacy.

This first edition hardcover (6 in x 9.5 in) is a valuable collectible for those interested in music history, ballet, theatre, biography, and cultural studies.

• First Edition (1946) published by Random House

• Hardcover edition, 6 in x 9.5 in

• Autobiography of Sol Hurok (1888–1974), world-renowned impresario

• Written in collaboration with Ruth Goode

• Behind-the-scenes stories of managing legendary artists

• Features cultural icons such as Anna Pavlova, Marian Anderson, Andrés Segovia, Feodor Chaliapin, and more

• Rich account of music, dance, and performing arts in the 20th century

• A collectible for readers of biography, music history, and theatre