Tra arte e mercato. Agenti e agenzie teatrali nel XIX secolo

Main object of the monograph are theatrical agencies in Italy (both music and drama are meant), from their beginning as a professional and profitable activity between 18th and 19th century to their huge growth in the second half of the 19th century. As a link between supply and demand, theatrical agencies permit to outline the functioning of the market of the theatre on the distribution and communication side, when theatre, shows and performing arts in general were the main cultural consumption in Italy. The first part of the book focuses on theatrical intermediation as a professional activity. Legal position and rules, customs and norms in the different field of activities are minutely described. The second part of the research focuses on a case study, Milan in the 19th century, as the city held the leader position in the theatrical production and market. Institutional and juridical contexts under the different governments (before and after Italy’s political Unity) are presented as the basic frames within agencies could or could not work. A reconstruction of the network of agents and agencies, of their strategies and connections to the main theatre enterprises of the country is aimed. Particular attention is given to “L’Arte drammatica”, the first important agency in drama, and to its prevailing homonymous journal. The book ends with a dictionary of the main agents and impresarios mentioned. Each voice provides new biographical and bibliographical information. As far as scientific background is concerned, the History of Theatrical Organization and Economics is a quite young academic subject and global studies on the 19th century are very few: therefore the book is based most on unpublished materials from archives, coeval journals and management treatises.