Solomon Israilevich Gurkov, later known as Sol Hurok, was born on April 9, 1888, in Pogar, near Kharkov, Russia, to a traditional Russian-Jewish family. He was the third son, and his father, Israil Gurkov, was a retail trader. Young Hurok was a talented balalaika player, largely self-taught, and worked for his father's business. At 18, he was sent to study at the Kharkov Trade School, but instead used his savings to emigrate to America in May 1906, along with his girlfriend, Tamara Shapiro, whom he married in 1908 and had a daughter with.
In America, Hurok changed his name to Sol Hurok, learned English, and worked various jobs, including peddling, being a streetcar conductor, bottle-washer, and hardware salesman, before becoming a renowned impresario. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1914.
Hurok was a prolific show promoter, inaugurating the popular concert series "Music for the Masses" in 1913. He represented over 4,000 artists and companies, focusing mainly on Russian stars of music, opera, and ballet. Notable performers he represented include Efrem Zimbalist Sr., David Oistrakh, Leonid Kogan, Viktor Tretyakov, Valeri Klimov, Mstislav Rostropovich, opera singers Feodor Chaliapin Sr., Yelena Obraztsova, Irina Arkhipova, Galina Vishnevskaya, Zara Dolukhanova, ballet dancers Mikhail Fokin, Anna Pavlova, Isadora Duncan, Galina Ulanova, pianists Artur Rubinstein, Svyatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Van Cliburn, among many others.
In 1935, Hurok was introduced to singer Marian Anderson by pianist Rubinstein and was impressed by her talent, organizing her concerts in the United States. He staged an open-air performance for Anderson at the Lincoln Memorial on April 9, 1939, which was a tremendous success, making her an overnight celebrity and earning her an invitation to the White House by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
During the 1920s and 30s, Hurok managed American tours of the Diaghilev's Ballet Russe and the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. In the 30s, 40s, and 50s, he brought theatrical companies from Europe, Russia, and Israel, such as Habima Players, Moscow Art Theatre, Comédie Française, and the Old Vic, among others.
In 1946, Hurok published his autobiography, 'Impresario', which was later adapted into the film Tonight We Sing (1953) by director Mitchell Leisen.
Hurok's major achievements in the 1960s were the impeccably organized international tours of the Bolshoi Theatre with its famous large-scale Russian operas and ballets. He later organized numerous international tours for the Kirov Ballet of Leningrad (St. Petersburg),Russia. He also brought the Moscow Art Theatre and the 'Beriozka' ensemble on several tours to the United States.
Hurok made the impossible breakthrough by bringing the Bolshoi Theatre Ballet to America during the Cuban Missile crisis. At that time, he managed to separate Russian art and culture from Soviet politics of the day.
In 1972, Sol Hurok was injured in an explosion in his office, which killed one of his staff receptionists and injured several others. However, he continued his work on Russian-American projects, including his Rudolf Nureyev project, sponsored by David Rockefeller. Hurok died of a heart attack en route to a meeting with David Rockefeller on March 5, 1974, in New York. The service was held at Carnegie Hall, where thousands came, including many internationally renowned performers. The last word was said by Hurok's protégé Marian Anderson.
