Angelo Neumann

 

Talking of great impresarios, Angelo Neumann must be countered as one together with Maddox (see our post below), Barbaia, Laneri, Diaghilev, Astruc, Mapleson, Hammerstein, Hurok, Christie, Hochhauser and so forth. 

Wagner's 'Ring' was premiered at Bayreuth in 1876. In 1878, Angelo Neumann had it performed in the Bayreuth sets at Leipzig. From there he toured it around Europe in 135 complete performances and 50 concerts.

In this way he did for Wagner what Barbaia had done for Rossini and Lanari for  Bellini and Donizetti. A man of many parts, he had been a prominent singer and Intendant of various opera houses.  Not bad for a Jew born in Stampfen (Stupava), a small town 15 km West of Bratislava, population 12,000. 

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