Alfred Schulz-Curtius

Alfred Schulz-Curtius was a classical music impresario who was active primarily in continental Europe and the United Kingdom from the 1870s until the 1920s.

In 1876,Christopher Fifield, "Ibbs and Tillett: The Rise and Fall of a Musical Empire" (Chapter 22, p. 308). London: Ashgate Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1-84014-290-1, ISBN 978-1840142907. ASIN|1840142901. [http://books.google.com/books?id=qz-s4zdLCNsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=subject:%22Ibbs+and+Tillett%22 Preview] on Google Book Search. ( [http://www.ashgate.com/subject_area/downloads/sample_chapters/Ibbs_and_Tillett_Index.pdf General Index] )] cite web |url= http://www.askonasholt.co.uk/green/green/home.nsf/about |title= The History of Askonas Holt |work= Askonas Holt website |quote= ] he founded the eponymous Alfred Schulz-Curtius music and artists management agency in the West End of London at 44 Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus. He is most well known for his popularization of the music of Richard Wagner.cite web |url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0C14F83C5414728DDDA00994DB405B8985F0D3 |title= In the World of Music: What the Composers, Players, Singers, and Managers Are Doing in Various Places |author= |work= The New York Times, Page 6 (abstract). [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9506E5D91730E132A2575AC1A9659C94689ED7CF Full article] (pdf) |date= 19 March 1899 |quote= ] cite web |url= http://concertprogrammes.orangeleaf.com/html/search/verb/GetRecord/4208 |title= Alfred Schulz-Curtius' Grand Wagner Concerts (1894-98) |work= Online database of library/archive holdings of concert programmes. Maintained by Cardiff University in collaboration with the Royal College of Music ] Sir John Ritblat Gallery: [http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/whatson/exhibitions/ritblat/music.html Treasures of the British Library: Music] (“Brochure for 1898 Ring by Alfred Schultz-Curtius, Playbills 350, folio 64.” British Library.)] In 1882, he arranged the first British stagingChristopher Fifield, "Ibbs and Tillett: The Rise and Fall of a Musical Empire" (Chapter 3, pp. 25-26).] of the epic "Ring Cycle," conducted by Anton Seidl and directed by Angelo Neumann.

During his four or more decades of professional activity, Schulz-Curtius organized dozens of concerts at concert and recital venues such as St. James's Hall,Christopher Fifield, "Ibbs and Tillett: The Rise and Fall of a Musical Empire" (Chapter 3, pp. 25-26).] Queen's Hall,cite web |url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10D12F63A5417738DDDAA0894D9405B848CF1D3 |title= Of Music and Musicians |work= The New York Times, p. 17 (abstract). [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E07E3D71130E233A25750C0A9679C946597D6CF&oref=slogin Full article] (pdf) |date= 3 January 1904 |quote= ] cite web |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=28uHefY4ctMC&dq=curtius+mottl |title= "My Life of Music" |author= Sir Henry Joseph Wood |work= 1971 autobiography ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=28uHefY4ctMC&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&dq=curtius+mottl&source=web&ots=KaCdCycXGV&sig=vOoa6SvpDFkh8FgnJcBmyzHgzZA alternate] Google Book Search) |quote= ] cite web |url= http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0027-4666(19110501)52%3A819%3C293%3AMPP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-O |title= Mr. Percy Pitt |author= |work= The Musical Times, Vol. 52, No. 819, pp. 293-295 (doi|10.2307/905399) |date= 1 May 1911 |quote= ] the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden,cite web |url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A0DEFD7163DE433A2575AC2A9679C94689ED7CF |title= Musical Matters Abroad |author= |work= The Pall Mall Gazette, as quoted in The New York Times, p. 6 (abstract). [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9A0DEFD7163DE433A2575AC2A9679C94689ED7CF&oref=slogin full article] (PDF) |date= 29 January 1899 |quote= ] Wigmore Hall,cite web |url= http://www.draeseke.org/stelzner/christensen0601.htm |title= Dr. Alfred Stelzner: Pioneer in Violin Acoustics |author= James Christensen |work= International Draeseke Society |quote= ] which was then known as Bechstein Hall,cite web |url= http://suggia.weblog.com.pt/arquivo/070682.html |title= O Regresso de Leipzig (The Return to Leipzig) |author= Guilhermina Suggia |work= Excerpt from "Guilhermina Suggia - A Sonata de Sempre" by Fátima Pombo (in Portuguese) |date= The Hague, January 1905 |quote= ] and also collaborated with other impresarios such as Robert Newman, founder of The Proms.

Alfred Schulz-Curtius had great enthusiasm for the string instruments designed by Dr. Alfred Stelzner and went to great lengths to encourage their use by soloists, ensembles and orchestras.

The conductors with whom Schulz-Curtius worked include Hermann Levi, Felix Mottl, Percy Pitt, Hans Richter,cite web |url= http://www.biblio.com/books/48011710.html |title= Autograph Letter Signed by RICHTER, Hans (1843-1916) |work= Biblio Booksearch and Marketplace for Visible Ink Incorporated Inventory #41024 |date= dated 31 May 1907 |quote= ] cite web |url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C03E2DD173EE233A2575BC0A9649D946697D6CF |title= A Boy Paderewski: Musical Prodigy Makes a Sensation in London |author= Special Correspondence |work= The New York Times Section: The Marconi Transatlantic Wireless Dispatches, Page C4 (abstract). [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9C03E2DD173EE233A2575BC0A9649D946697D6CF&oref=slogin Full article] (pdf) |date= 8 December 1907 |quote= ] and Henry Joseph Wood. Others among the many artists whom he represented include pianist Ferruccio Busoni,cite web |url= http://www.rodoni.ch/busoni/bibliotechina/letteregerdaEN/gerdaEN1.html |title= Letters to his wife |author= Ferruccio Busoni |work= |date= 1895 - 1907 |quote= ] violinist Jan Kubelík,cite web |url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40710F9355E13738DDDAF0894DA405B838DF1D3 |title= Melba-Kubelik Tour. Other Well-Known Artists to Join Concert Combination in America |author= |work= By Marconi Transatlantic Wireless Telegraph to The New York Times, Page 4 (abstract). [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9B0DE1D81E3AE633A25755C0A9649C946296D6CF&oref=slogin full article] (pdf) |date= 6 February 1913 |quote= ( [http://www.rainfall.com/posters/newsServicePhotos/107974.htm Photo of Gabriel LaPierre] with Jan Kubelík.)] soprano Dame Nellie Melba, and cellist Guilhermina Suggia.

In the 1910s, early in World War I, Lionel Powellcite web |url= http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0027-4666(19320201)73%3A1068%3C175%3AOLJMP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-V |title= Obituary: Lionel John Manning Powell |work= The Musical Times, Vol. 73, No. 1068, p. 175 (on JSTOR) |date= 1 February 1932 |quote= ] was taken on as a partner in the agency (renamed Schulz-Curtius Powell) when Schulz-Curtius, a German national, was interned as an "enemy alien." Powell continued to manage the agency through the 1920scite web |url= http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0027-4666(198010)121%3A1652%3C625%3ABATBSO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-4 |title= Beecham and the BBC Symphony Orchestra: A Collaboration That Never Happened |author= Nicholas Kenyon |work= The Musical Times, Vol. 121, No. 1652, p. 625, pp. 627-628 (doi|10.2307/961148) |date= October 1980 |quote= ] after the death of its founder.

From the early 1930s, South African Harold Holt managed the agency as Harold Holt Ltd until the early 1950s. In 1956, Sir Ian Hunter joined the agency and, in 1969,Christopher Fifield, "Ibbs and Tillett: The Rise and Fall of a Musical Empire" (Chapter 24, p. 341).] by which time Harolt Holt Ltd was owned by Ibbs and Tillett, purchased it.

In the late 1990s, the agency which Alfred Schulz-Curtius had founded more than one hundred twenty years earlier merged with the Lies Askonas agency to form Askonas Holt.

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