Everywhere but on the stage

Hans Ulrich Schmid, founder of the prestigious concert agency KD SCHMID and co-founder of the concert series Pro Musica, shares insights into the world of music management from his company's inception in 1959 until the 1980s. Representing artists and orchestras of international renown as a concert agent, he recorded various experiences and encounters of both personal and general interest: for example, with Maurice André, Wilhelm Kempff, Alfred Brendel, Sir John Barbirolli, Helen Donath, Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Georg Solti, and Hans Werner Henze. The work of the impresario for his artist could be exemplified by the following passage: "I could recommend you to concert promoters, conductors, broadcasting companies, and so forth; theoretically, I could rent a concert hall on your behalf, create publicity for your concert, and generate interest with an audience for the concert; furthermore, I could accompany you to the concert on the evening in question, show you the way to the podium, in short: take care of everything that is required for such a concert to take place. I could be everywhere and do everything but enter the stage - you must do that yourself!"