  We construct a first order parent field theory for free higher spin gauge
fields on constant curvature spaces. As in the previously considered flat case,
both Fronsdal's and Vasiliev's unfolded formulations can be reached by two
different straightforward reductions. The parent theory itself is formulated
using a higher dimensional embedding space and turns out to be geometrically
extremely transparent and free of the intricacies of both of its reductions.
