Alfred Moul (c. 1852 – 18 January 1924) was a composer, pianist, agent, critic, and impresario. His origins are uncertain, but there is some evidence that he was from Australia.Skinner, Graham
"Moul, Alfred
'' A biographical register of Australian colonial musical personnel–M (Me-My)'', University of Sydney. Retrieved 10 November 2018 He studied music in London under

Julius Benedict Sir Julius Benedict (27 November 1804 – 5 June 1885) was a German-born composer and conductor, resident in England for most of his career. Life and music Benedict was born in Stuttgart, the son of a Jewish banker, and in 1820 learnt compo ...

, after which he travelled to Australia in 1876. He performed and composed, and from mid-1880 was music critic of two

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

papers. In 1883 Moul returned to England, where he became managing director of the

Alhambra Theatre The Alhambra was a popular theatre and music hall located on the east side of Leicester Square, in the West End of London. It was built originally as the Royal Panopticon of Science and Arts opening on 18 March 1854. It was closed after two yea ...

in London. For

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

's diamond jubilee in 1897 he commissioned

Arthur Sullivan Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (13 May 1842 – 22 November 1900) was an English composer. He is best known for 14 comic opera, operatic Gilbert and Sullivan, collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including ''H.M.S. Pinaf ...

's ballet ''

Victoria and Merrie England ''Victoria and Merrie England'', billed as a "Grand National Ballet in Eight Tableaux" is an 1897 ballet by the choreographer Carlo Coppi with music by Arthur Sullivan, written to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, commemorating her s ...

''. On occasion he would compose additional music for the shows he presented at the Alhambra, and he contributed to productions at other theatres, such as the London versions of

Frédéric Toulmouche Frédéric-Michel Toulmouche (4 August 1850 – 23 February 1909)Charles Lecocq Alexandre Charles Lecocq (3 June 183224 October 1918) was a French composer, known for his opérettes and opéra comique, opéras comiques. He became the most prominent successor to Jacques Offenbach in this sphere, and enjoyed considerable succ ...

's '' Incognita'' (also 1892). For such compositions he used the pen name "Yvolde". For the Alhambra, known for its popular ballets, he wrote the score of one of the most successful, ''Psyche'' (1909). Moul remained closely connected with the Alhambra for many years, holding at various times the post of managing director or chairman (and both concurrently from 1906 to 1911).Alfred Moul"
''

The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, whi ...

'', 19 May 1912, p. 20 He was also prominent in the campaign to secure authors' and composers' intellectual property rights. He was honoured by the French government for his efforts in this respect. During the 1890s Moul was an artists' agent for opera, drama and concerts. Among those whose careers he fostered were Landon Ronald,

May Yohé Mary Augusta "May" Yohé (April 6, 1866 – August 29, 1938) was an American musical theatre actress. After beginning her career with the McCaull Comic Opera Company in 1886 in New York and Chicago, and after other performances in the United S ...

and

Agnes Huntington Agnes Huntington (later, Agnes Huntington Cravath; ca. 1864 – March 10, 1953) was an American operatic singer. For several years, she received private tutoring in Europe for music, languages, and drawing. She had a notable career in concert and ...

."Mr. Alfred Moul", ''The Times'', 19 January 1924, p. 12 He was also active in the early British film industry, and in 1896 directed a comedy, ''

The Soldier's Courtship ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

''."The Soldier's Courtship (1896)"
British Film Institute. Retrieved 10 November 2018 Moul died in London, leaving a widow but no children.

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Moul, Alfred 1924 deaths Australian composers English theatre managers and producers Australian impresarios Australian music critics Year of birth uncertain British composers British impresarios