Silvio D'Amico
Encyclopedia
Silvio D'Amico was an Italian theatre critic, journalist ,and theorist of Italian theater. Not a Fascist
himself, D'Amico was the major theater critic during the ventennio, 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
), 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.
. After graduating in law in 1911, he was appointed to the Ministry of Education to the Directorate General for Antiquities and Fine Arts. In 1923, he became professor of theater history in 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.
Between 1925 to 1940, he directed dramatic criticism in the La Tribune
newspaper. With Nicola De Pirro, he founded the magazine Scenario
in 1932 and they directed it together for three years, after which De Pirro continued alone. In 1934, he was appointed Special Commissioner for the reform of the drama school in Rome, and the following year, he became the head of the Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico
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 drama
tist, novelist, and short story writer Luigi Pirandello
. In turn, Pirandello spoke of D'Amico as "the priest".
, in 1938. Another son, Alessandro d'Amico, married Pirandello's granddaughter, Maria Luisa Aguirre.
D'Amico's brother Mario worked on the Enciclopedia with him.
He died in Rome in April 1955. At the news of his death, the theaters of the capital remained closed for mourning.
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
himself, D'Amico was the major theater critic during the ventennio, 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
Encyclopedia of Performing Arts
The Encyclopedia of Performing Arts was an Italian language specialty encyclopedia of performing arts, published between 1954 and 1965. Its first editor was the Italian theatre critic and journalist, Silvio D'Amico...
), 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
Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico
Accademia Nazionale d'Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico is a national drama school in Rome, Italy, located at Via Vincenzo Bellini, 16. Founded in 1936 by the theatrical theorist, critic, and writer Silvio D'Amico, the academy is the only state school for the training of actors and directors...
in Rome, Italy's most prestigious drama school.
Biography
A Catholic, D'Amico was educated by Jesuits at Rome's Massimiliano Massimo InstituteMassimiliano Massimo Institute
The Massimiliano Massimo Institute is a Jesuit school in Rome.-History:Its roots are in the School of Grammar, Humanities and Christian Doctrine, a small school set up in Via Nuova Capitolina by Ignatius Loyola in 1551...
. After graduating in law in 1911, he was appointed to the Ministry of Education to the Directorate General for Antiquities and Fine Arts. In 1923, he became professor of theater history in 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.
Between 1925 to 1940, he directed dramatic criticism in the La Tribune
La Tribune
La Tribune is a French financial newspaper that was founded in 1985. The paper is in tabloid format and has a circulation of around 78,000.- External links :**...
newspaper. With Nicola De Pirro, he founded the magazine Scenario
Scenario
A scenario is a synoptical collage of an event or series of actions and events. In the Commedia dell'arte it was an outline of entrances, exits, and action describing the plot of a play that was literally pinned to the back of the scenery...
in 1932 and they directed it together for three years, after which De Pirro continued alone. In 1934, he was appointed Special Commissioner for the reform of the drama school in Rome, and the following year, he became the head of the Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico
Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico
Accademia Nazionale d'Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico is a national drama school in Rome, Italy, located at Via Vincenzo Bellini, 16. Founded in 1936 by the theatrical theorist, critic, and writer Silvio D'Amico, the academy is the only state school for the training of actors and directors...
which, since the 1940s, has taught many of Italy's most successful actors. In the years after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, 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
Italian Society of Authors and Publishers
The Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori , mostly know by its acronym SIAE, is an Italian public performance-rights organization responsible for the protection and exercise of copyright in Italy...
. From 1945 to 1955, he was the critic of Il Tempo
Il Tempo
Il Tempo is a daily Italian newspaper. It was founded in Rome, Italy by Renato Angiolillo in 1944 and currently publishes the Rome edition and other five local editions ....
. 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 drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
tist, novelist, and short story writer Luigi Pirandello
Luigi Pirandello
Luigi Pirandello was an Italian dramatist, novelist, and short story writer awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1934, for his "bold and brilliant renovation of the drama and the stage." Pirandello's works include novels, hundreds of short stories, and about 40 plays, some of which are written...
. In turn, Pirandello spoke of D'Amico as "the priest".
Personal life
He had at least two children. A son, Fedele D'Amico (nickname: Lele), who was a musicologist, married the Italian screenwriter, Suso Cecchi d'AmicoSuso Cecchi d'Amico
Suso Cecchi d'Amico was an Italian screenwriter and actress. She worked with virtually all of the most celebrated post-war Italian film directors, and wrote or co-wrote many award winning films—among them:...
, in 1938. Another son, Alessandro d'Amico, married Pirandello's granddaughter, Maria Luisa Aguirre.
D'Amico's brother Mario worked on the Enciclopedia with him.
He died in Rome in April 1955. At the news of his death, the theaters of the capital remained closed for mourning.