Silvio D'Amico (3 February 1887 in Rome – 1 April 1955 in Rome) was an Italian theatre critic, journalist, and theorist of Italian theater. Not a Fascist himself,[notes 1] D'Amico was the major theater critic during the ventennio,[1] the twenty years (1922–1945) of Fascist rule in Italy. He was the first editor of the nine-volume Enciclopedia dello Spettacolo (Encyclopedia of Performing Arts),[2] published between 1954 and 1965, that covered theater, music, cinema, and dance. Most notably, he held an eminent position in theatrical study in Italy, giving his name to the Silvio D'Amico National Academy of Dramatic Art in Rome, Italy's most prestigious drama school.
A Catholic,[notes 3] D'Amico was educated by Jesuits at Rome's Massimiliano Massimo Institute. After graduating in law in 1911, he was appointed to the Ministry of Education as the Directorate General for Antiquities and Fine Arts. In 1923, he became a professor of theater history at the Royal School of Acting "Eleonora Duse." He met Duse when he was young and ambitious, a time when D'Amico wanted to create an Italian national theatre that produced works of young Italian playwrights.[3]
Between 1925 and 1940, he directed dramatic criticism in the La Tribune newspaper. With Nicola De Pirro, he founded the magazine Scenario in 1932. They directed it together for three years, after which De Pirro continued alone.[4] In 1934, he was appointed Special Commissioner for the reform of the drama school in Rome. The following year, he became the head of the Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico[notes 4] which, since the 1940s, has taught many of Italy's most successful actors. In the years after World War II, he devoted most of his time at the academy.
From 1937 to 1943, he directed the Rivista italiana del Dramma, published by the Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori. From 1945 to 1955, he was the critic of Il Tempo. He was a major contributor to the Teatro del Novecento encyclopedia, contributing to 11 of its volumes.
D'Amico championed the works of the Italian dramatist, novelist, and short story writer Luigi Pirandello.[3] In turn, Pirandello spoke of D'Amico as "the priest".[5]
Personal lifeedit
He had at least two children. A son, Fedele D'Amico (nickname: Lele), who was a musicologist, married the Italian screenwriter, Suso Cecchi d'Amico, in 1938.[6] Another son, Alessandro d'Amico, married Pirandello's granddaughter, Maria Luisa Aguirre.[5]
D'Amico's brother, Mario, worked on the Enciclopedia with him.[7]
He died in Rome in April 1955. At the news of his death, the theaters of the capital remained closed for mourning.
^Witt, Mary Ann Frese (2001). The search for modern tragedy: aesthetic fascism in Italy and France. Cornell University Press. p. 27. ISBN0801438373.
^Farrell, Joseph; Puppa, Paolo (2006). A history of Italian theatre. Cambridge University Press. p. 269. ISBN0-521-80265-2.
^ abSheehy, Helen (2003). Eleonora Duse: a biography. Random House, Inc. p. 428. ISBN0-375-40017-6.
^Berghaus, Günter (1996). Fascism and theatre: comparative studies on the aesthetics and politics of performance in Europe, 1925-1945. Berghahn Books. p. 111. ISBN1-57181-877-4.
^ abFrassica, Pietro Frassica (2010). Her Maestro's Echo. Troubador Publishing Ltd. p. 148. ISBN978-1-84876-352-4.
^Lane, John Francis (August 1, 2010). "Suso Cecchi d'Amico obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
^"Conversazione sull'Enciclopedia dello Spettacolo con Alessandro D'Amico e Luigi Squarzina". unile.it (in Italian). Retrieved October 15, 2010.
December 01, 2023
silvio, amico, confused, with, silvia, amico, february, 1887, rome, april, 1955, rome, italian, theatre, critic, journalist, theorist, italian, theater, fascist, himself, notes, amico, major, theater, critic, during, ventennio, twenty, years, 1922, 1945, fasci. Not to be confused with Silvia D Amico Silvio D Amico 3 February 1887 in Rome 1 April 1955 in Rome was an Italian theatre critic journalist and theorist of Italian theater Not a Fascist himself notes 1 D Amico was the major theater critic during the ventennio 1 the twenty years 1922 1945 of Fascist rule in Italy He was the first editor of the nine volume Enciclopedia dello Spettacolo Encyclopedia of Performing Arts 2 published between 1954 and 1965 that covered theater music cinema and dance Most notably he held an eminent position in theatrical study in Italy giving his name to the Silvio D Amico National Academy of Dramatic Art in Rome Italy s most prestigious drama school Silvio D AmicoSilvio D Amico and Marta Abba in Castiglioncello 1933Born3 February 1887Rome ItalyDied1 April 1955 1955 05 aged 68 NationalityItalianOccupation s Theatre criticJournalistTheorist of Italian theaterChildrenAlessandro d AmicoFedele D Amico Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Notes 4 ReferencesBiography edit What mass theater could be more authentic than that of the people gathered in Piazza Venezia when Mussolini speaks from his balcony S D Amico Volta Conference 1934 notes 2 A Catholic notes 3 D Amico was educated by Jesuits at Rome s Massimiliano Massimo Institute After graduating in law in 1911 he was appointed to the Ministry of Education as the Directorate General for Antiquities and Fine Arts In 1923 he became a professor of theater history at the Royal School of Acting Eleonora Duse He met Duse when he was young and ambitious a time when D Amico wanted to create an Italian national theatre that produced works of young Italian playwrights 3 Between 1925 and 1940 he directed dramatic criticism in the La Tribune newspaper With Nicola De Pirro he founded the magazine Scenario in 1932 They directed it together for three years after which De Pirro continued alone 4 In 1934 he was appointed Special Commissioner for the reform of the drama school in Rome The following year he became the head of the Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D Amico notes 4 which since the 1940s has taught many of Italy s most successful actors In the years after World War II he devoted most of his time at the academy From 1937 to 1943 he directed the Rivista italiana del Dramma published by the Societa Italiana degli Autori ed Editori From 1945 to 1955 he was the critic of Il Tempo He was a major contributor to the Teatro del Novecento encyclopedia contributing to 11 of its volumes D Amico championed the works of the Italian dramatist novelist and short story writer Luigi Pirandello 3 In turn Pirandello spoke of D Amico as the priest 5 Personal life editHe had at least two children A son Fedele D Amico nickname Lele who was a musicologist married the Italian screenwriter Suso Cecchi d Amico in 1938 6 Another son Alessandro d Amico married Pirandello s granddaughter Maria Luisa Aguirre 5 D Amico s brother Mario worked on the Enciclopedia with him 7 He died in Rome in April 1955 At the news of his death the theaters of the capital remained closed for mourning Notes edit Berghaus p 134 Witt p 29 Witt p 122 Witt p 21References edit Witt Mary Ann Frese 2001 The search for modern tragedy aesthetic fascism in Italy and France Cornell University Press p 27 ISBN 0801438373 Farrell Joseph Puppa Paolo 2006 A history of Italian theatre Cambridge University Press p 269 ISBN 0 521 80265 2 a b Sheehy Helen 2003 Eleonora Duse a biography Random House Inc p 428 ISBN 0 375 40017 6 Berghaus Gunter 1996 Fascism and theatre comparative studies on the aesthetics and politics of performance in Europe 1925 1945 Berghahn Books p 111 ISBN 1 57181 877 4 a b Frassica Pietro Frassica 2010 Her Maestro s Echo Troubador Publishing Ltd p 148 ISBN 978 1 84876 352 4 Lane John Francis August 1 2010 Suso Cecchi d Amico obituary The Guardian Retrieved October 15 2010 Conversazione sull Enciclopedia dello Spettacolo con Alessandro D Amico e Luigi Squarzina unile it in Italian Retrieved October 15 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Silvio D 27Amico amp oldid 1181323785, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
