Guide to the Papers of Curt and Marea Prerauer
MS 10040
National Library of Australia
| Date completed: | February 2009 |
| Last updated: | February 2009 |
This finding aid is published with the assistance of the Ray Mathew and Eva Kollsman Trust.
Table of Contents
Collection Summary
Introduction
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Access
Copying and Publishing
Preferred Citation
Provenance
Related Material
Biographical Note
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 Correspondence of Curt and Marea Prerauer, 1933-1969
Series 2 Manuscript and published music, c.1920-1973
Series 3 Musical criticism and cultural writings of Curt and Marea Prerauer, 1937-1973
Series 4 Translations, c.1957-1969
Series 5 Correspondence of Marea Prerauer, 1965-2001
Series 6 Singing career of Marea Prerauer, 1926-1981
Series 7 Creative writing by Marea Prerauer, 1929-c.1975
Series 8 Journalism by Marea Prerauer, 1955-1997
Series 9 Marea Preruaer's papers on Australian arts bodies, 1971-1996
Series 10 Family papers of Curt Prerauer, 1916-1968
Series 11 Juvenilia and family papers of Marea Prerauer, 1926-1950
Series 12 Photographs c.1910-c.1991
Series 13 Publications, ephemera, cuttings, press releases collected by Curt and Marea Prerauer, 1869-1998
Series 14 Published writings of Curt and Marea Prerauer, 1933-1969
Series 15 Published writings of Marea Prerauer, 1963-2005
Container List
Collection Summary
| Creator: | Curt and Marea Prerauer |
| Title: | Papers of Curt and Marea Prerauer |
| Date Range: | 1869-2006 |
| Collection Number: | MS 10040 |
| Extent: | 12.06m (57 boxes + 3 folio boxes + 1 elephant folio packet) |
| Repository: | National Library of Australia |
| Abstract: | The papers relate to the lives and careers of conductor, music critic, music teacher and composer Curt Prerauer, and soprano, author, editor and music critic Marea Prerauer. |
Introduction
Scope and Content
The papers relate to the lives and careers of conductor, vocal coach, music critic and composer Curt Prerauer, and soprano, journalist, music critic and author Marea Prerauer. The papers include the Prerauers' shared correspondence, including with composers and other cultural figures such as Peter Sculthorpe, Richard Meale and Patrick White. Other material includes drafts of their music criticism and other writing, manuscripts of music composed by Curt and published music owned by the Prerauers, photographs, and family papers. The largest series comprises cuttings of their published work.
Papers specifically pertaining to Curt Prerauer include family papers that document his move to Australia, and the details of family property in Germany (later Poland) seized by the Nazis, for which the family sought restitution after World War II.
Marea Prerauer's papers include her creative writing and juvenilia; material relating to her career as an opera singer; letters written to her in her capacity as arts gossip columnist 'Marietta', and Arts Editor of The Australian; and cuttings of her work as a journalist after Curt's death.
Arrangement
Most of the collection was in original filing systems created by Curt and Marea Prerauer. The music, photographs and publications were unarranged. While many files contain a mix of types of papers from various dates, they have not been internally rearranged, and so there is some overlap between series. Some correspondence and loose material has been put in chronological or alphabetical order by the Curator of Music, Robyn Holmes and music historian Graeme Skinner when packing the records, and subsequently by National Library of Australia archivists.
Because there was much overlap in the Prerauers' careers, several series relate to their shared work and correspondence. Other series are attributed to either Curt or Marea Prerauer. This series arrangement was decided upon largely due to Marea's long career in journalism after Curt's death in 1967.
The Library has used the spelling of the Prerauers' names as Curt and Marea, although both were known by different forms of their names during their careers. Curt Prerauer changed the spelling of his first name from Kurt after he emigrated to Australia in the 1930s. Marea sang and wrote children's books under her maiden name of Marea Wolkowsky, and used Maria Prerauer for her career in journalism.
Provenance
Marea Prerauer's nephew Alyn Tilleard donated the papers to the National Library of Australia in two instalments in 2006 and 2007. The National Library of Australia's Curator of Music, Robyn Holmes and music historian Graeme Skinner packed the papers and undertook some arrangement and listing.
Copying and Publishing
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Related Material
Biographical cuttings files on Curt and Marea Prerauer are held in the Newspaper and Microform Reading Room.
Papers on the Prerauers' translation of works by Patrick White are in the Papers of Patrick White, as is correspondence with White (MS 9982). Correspondence with Curt Prerauer is held in the Papers of James Murdoch (MS 8372) and the Papers of Richard Meale (MS 10076).
The Prerauers' published works, including German translations of Ray Lawler's Summer of the seventeenth doll and Patrick White's Riders in the chariot, and Marea's books for children (which she published as Marea Wolkowsky) are listed on the Library's catalogue.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Curt and Marea Prerauer, National Library of Australia, MS 10040, [series and/or folder number]'.
Biographical Note
For biography of Curt Prerauer, see Australian Dictionary of Biography - http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160033b.htm.
Marea Wolkowsky was born in Sydney 2 May 1922. From an early age she showed a love and talent for the arts, especially singing and writing. Hearing her sing as a 16 year old, visiting opera singer Alexander Kipnis praised Marea's voice, and encouraged Curt Prerauer to take her on as a student for vocal training. Curt and Marea married in 1942. In the 1950s, the couple lived and worked in Europe, with Curt acting as Marea's manager and accompanist. Marea performed soprano roles in various productions including Alban Berg's Wozzeck, conducted by Erich Kleiber at Convent Garden. Marea sang under her maiden name, but often used the spelling 'Maria' for her first name, as she continued to do throughout her career.
Marea also wrote poetry, fiction and interviews for newspapers and for her own books from a young age. Several of her children's books were published in English and in German, Dutch and Swedish translation, including Australian adventure, Perilous journey : a story of adventure in Elizabethan times, The enchanted pancakes : a fairy tale for children, and The enchanted snakes.
In the 1950s and 1960s the Prerauers translated into German works of Australian literature, including Patrick White's Riders in the chariot (at White's request) and numerous plays, including Ray Lawler's Summer of the seventeenth doll, which was subsequently performed in Germany and Austria. Curt and Marea also wrote a series of radio talks on Australian culture for West German radio.
After returning to Australia permanently, and moving into their new home in Castle Cove in 1960, the Prerauers wrote articles on cultural and musical topics, individually for various publications and together under the name C.M. Prerauer for Nation. The Prerauers promoted the development of a uniquely Australian style of music, and established connections and friendships with emerging Australian composers and musicians including Peter Sculthorpe, Roger Woodward, Richard Meale and Richard Divall.
Following Curt's death in November 1967 Marea continued to write reviews for various magazines and newspapers. In 1971 she started an arts gossip columns under the name 'Musetta' for The Sunday Australian, a column which she carried to other newspapers. In 1975 she became the first Arts Editor of The Australian, a position which she held until 1991. From 1991 to 1999 Marea wrote an arts gossip column under the byline 'Marietta' for The Bulletin, and from the late 1990s until 2006 contributed reviews to Opera magazine.
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 Correspondence of Curt and Marea Prerauer, 1933-1969
Comprises a wide range of letters sent to and from Curt and Marea, separately and together, including with publishers and editors, authors and composers such as Patrick White and Peter Sculthorpe, members of the public in response to their music and theatre reviews, and correspondence on household administrative matters. Some letters are in German.
Most of Marea's correspondence following Curt's death in November 1967 is contained in Series 5. Some files in this series do include correspondence post-dating Curt's death.
Small amounts of correspondence are also contained in most other series, including Curt and Marea's writing and translation (Series 3 and 4), papers relating to Marea's singing career (Series 6), Marea's files relating to arts bodies (Series 9), and family papers of each (Series 10 and 11).
Folder 1-2 Correspondence, 1934-1949, 1964
Mostly of Curt. Includes correspondence with: the ABC and the NSW Conservatorium of Music; Frank Forde and John Curtin regarding the ABC; musicians, including Leo Blech, Eugene Goossens, Peggy Glanville-Hicks and Lotte Lehman; and Dal Stivens of the Department of Information.
Folder 3 Correspondence, 1936-1949
Correspondence of Curt, including Florence Austral, Joseph Post, Hans Zander, and Gertrude Johnson (National Theatre Movement).
Folder 4 Correspondence, 1948-1967
Includes correspondence with Eugene Goossens, letter from Benjamin Britten, and family correspondence of Curt.
Folder 5-6 Correspondence, 1939-1950
Mostly Marea's correspondence with publishers regarding her fiction works for children.
Folder 12 Correspondence with individuals, A-G, 1959-1967
Includes Alfred Brondel, Roger Covell, Dean Dixon and George Dreyfus.
Folder 13 Correspondence with individuals, H-M, 1958-1967
Includes Robert Helpmann, Peter Heyworth, Keith Humble, Charles Mackerras, and Richard Meale.
Folder 15 Correspondence with organisations, 1958-1967
Includes newspapers and publishers, International Society for Contemporary Music, Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Goethe Institute, NSW Arts Council, Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, British Council.
Folder 21 Correspondence, 1949-1964
Mostly relating to Marea's engagements in Germany and books. Includes letters of recommendation for Marea from Otto Klemperer, Elrich Kleiber and Adrian Boult. Includes press cuttings.
Folder 23-24 Correspondence, 1959-1967
Mostly in German. Includes correspondence and typescripts relating to the discovery of 30 letters of Richard Strauss in Sydney in 1961.
Folder 27 Correspondence relating to radio and royalties, 1956-1966
Mostly in German. Includes contracts.
Folder 31 Correspondence, 1966-1968
Includes letter from Marea to Roger Woodward regarding Curt's death.
Folder 32-33 Correspondence and other papers regarding household matters, 1960-1968
Mostly relating to the Prerauers' house at Castlecrag, including architectural plans.
Series 2 Manuscript and published music, c.1920-1973
Comprises manuscripts of music written by Curt Preraurer, and published music owned by the Prerauers. Some are annotated and have been used in performance. Also includes some scores sent to the Prerauers from Australian composers, including Peter Sculthorpe and Richard Meale.
This material was arranged by the Archivist due to no original order. Authorship of some pieces is unclear.
Bag 3 Scores of works by Peter Sculthorpe, 1955-1966
Includes Pianoforte sonatina, Irkanda I, String trio : the loneliness of Bunjil, Sun music for orchestra, Sonatina, Night-piece and String quartet no. 6. Also includes four programs and articles on Sculthorpe.
Bag 4 Scores of Nocturnes and Coruscations by Richard Meale, c.1967-c.1974
Nocturnes dedicated to 'Curt and Maria Prerauer'. Includes note 'Maria - For the debut of 'Nocturnes' recording. Nov. 22 1974 Balmain.'
Bag 5 Various published and copied scores, 1940-1973
Includes Weerinbrinalli by Lucia Rees, Plum Tree composed by Linda Phillips, Alban Berg by Peter Altenberg, Vier Lieder by Heinrich Sutermeister, Krämerspiegel Op. 66 by Richard Strauss, Improvisation sur mallarmé by Pierre Boulez, Fünf Sinnsprüche Omars des Zeltmachers by Friedrich Rosen, Fantasias for string trio by Felix Werder, Die lider des anglers by Rudolf Wagner-Régeny, Dier Lieder by Boris Blacher, Le Vin and Der Wein by Alban Berg, Tirade by Don Banks, Nembutal Rock by Moya Henderson, On the afternoon of the pigsty by Alison Bauld, Tone Roads by AZ Music, Crucifixus et resurrexit by Claudio Monteverdi, Two songs for female voices Op. 8 by Eric Gross, Calligrammes by Francis Poulenc, and Crisis : thoughts in a city by Barry Conyngham.
Bag 6 Various published and copied scores, 1926-1963
Includes Sinfonietta by Eric Gross, Haj naa'lajim by I. Engel, Ashirah nalididi by Theodor I. Schoenberger, Song of the locus by Alfred Hill, Five songs of happiness by John Antill, A ship, an isle, a sickle moon by Linda Phillips, On the night train by Varney Monk, To a bunch of heather by Varney Monk, Wozzeck by Alban Berg, Five songs by Wagner, Song album for high voice and piano by Richard Strauss, Unto the Lord by Beethoven, Duo for violin and viola by Dorian le Gallienne, Australian war song by John D. Saylor, Trepak, Bar yochai by A. Davidovitz, and Ata hamakabi by I. Engel.
Series 3 Musical criticism and cultural writings of Curt and Marea Prerauer, 1937-1973
Comprises scripts for radio talks, mostly given in (West) Germany; other cultural writings, many on Australian musical and cultural life; reviews of music and books; drafts for a book on music; some business correspondence; and a small amount of autobiographical writing by Curt. Much of the material has shared authorship, such as reviews written under the name C.M. Prerauer, ie Curt Marea Prerauer.
This series primarily comprises material written during Curt's lifetime, but a small number of papers were created as late as 1973.
Folder 1-2 German radio scripts, 1954-1958
Includes talks on the Sydney Opera House and John Antill's Corroboree.
Folder 3-4 Radio scripts and stories, c.1957-1958
Mostly handwritten and typescript radio scripts in German, some in English. Includes several short stories in German and English by Marea.
Folder 5-6 Articles, radio scripts, stories and translations, c.1950s-1961
Mostly in German. Includes translations of Hal Porter, Dal Stivens and Charles Higham.
Folder 9 Articles and radio scripts, c.1965-1973
Articles by Curt and Marea, mostly in German, possibly for radio.
Folder 13 Reports and talks by Curt, 1937-1947
Mostly on music in Australia. Includes Curt's 1937 report about the ABC, and a 1941 talk to the Manly Rotary Club on Germans and Nazis.
Folder 14-16 Articles and radio scripts, 1956-1965
Includes duplicates of lectures for German radio, and some English language articles including on Richard Meale.
Folder 17-18 Musical criticism and correspondence with publishers, 1960-1967
Also includes brief curriculum vitae of Curt, notes on translation, including of Waltzing Matilda.
Folder 19 Research notes on Australian composers, 1965-1973
Includes one press release for the Australian Council for the Arts, 1973.
Folder 23 Reviews for The Bulletin, 1963-1970
Handwritten and typescript. Also includes some correspondence.
Folder 25-26 Unpublished musical treatise by Curt Prerauer, c.1947
'An unconventional approach to music'. Also includes letter from Eugene Goossens regarding writing a preface for the book.
Folder 27 Drafts for book on music by Curt and Marea, c.1960s
Small number of annotated typescript pages.
Folder 28 Draft autobiography by Curt, n.d.
Handwritten. Also includes copies of 1933 letters of recommendation for Curt from Wilhelm Furtwangler and Leo Blech.
Series 4 Translations, c.1957-1969
Curt and Marea Prerauer translated into German several works of Australian literature and theatre, including Ray Lawler's Summer of the seventeenth doll, Patrick White's Riders in the chariot and Australian poetry. This series comprises drafts and correspondence relating to the translation work.
Folder 1-2 Correspondence with Patrick White, 1961-1965
Relates to the Prerauers' German translation of White's Riders in the chariot. Also includes some correspondence with Curtis Brown regarding the translation.
Folder 3 Correspondence with publishers relating to translation of Riders in the chariot, 1962-1969
Mostly with German publishers. Also contains related correspondence and documents, including letter from Patrick White, contract with publisher, and correspondence researching the translation.
Folder 9 Original and translated works by Patrick White, c.1960s
Relates to the German translations the Prerauers made of several works by White. Includes typescripts of Six urban songs in English, A Cheery soul in English and in translation, and A Season in Sarsparilla in translation.
Folder 11-11a Articles and reviews pertaining to translation of Ray Lawler's Summer of the seventeenth doll, 1957-1959
Mostly in German. Also includes copy of ABC radio guide for December 1966. Poster for performance of the play, 13 November 1957 at the Schlosspark Theatre removed and placed in folder 11a in elephant folio.
Folder 14 Annotated proofs of translations of Australian poetry for Zeitgenossische Australische lyrik (1961), c.1960
Includes poems by Judith Wright, David Campbell, J.S. Manifold, Hal Porter, Rosemary Dobson, Ray Mathew and others.
Series 5 Correspondence of Marea Prerauer, 1965-2001
The correspondence of Marea Prearauer after Curt's death in 1967 is mostly concerned with professional matters. The majority of correspondence relates to Marea's position as Arts editor of The Australian, 1975-1991, as well as her columns and reviews for other publications, including The Bulletin.
Folder 1 Correspondence, including letters about Curt's death, 1965-1968
Includes some correspondence of Curt.
Folder 3 Correspondence, including letters about Curt's death, 1968-1972
Includes some correspondence relating to the Australian Council for the Arts.
Folder 7 'Letters pertaining to Brisbane', 1971-1975
Includes letters from Richard Divall, Larry Sitsky and Patrick Thomas.
Folder 9 Correspondence relating to opera, 1971-1975
Includes source letters for gossip column 'Marietta', and letters from Richard Divall.
Folder 10 Miscellaneous loose material, 1970-1971
Includes correspondence and cuttings regarding Patrick Thomas and Roger Woodward, photographs of Clifford Grant in various productions, and a note from Peter Sculthorpe.
Folder 11 Correspondence, 1973-1974
Includes source letters for and responses to the Marietta column and reviews by Marea, and letters from Larry Sitsky, Don Banks and Barry Humphries.
Folder 12 Correspondence, 1973
Three letters, including one from Don Banks describing his reasons for staying in Australia.
Folder 14 Correspondence, 1974-1975
Includes source letters for and responses to the Marietta column and reviews by Marea, and letters from Roger Woodward, Georg Tintner, Richard Divall and Richard Wherrett.
Folder 15-16 Correspondence, 1975-1979
Includes source letters for and responses to the Marietta column and reviews by Marea, and letters from Roger Woodward, Larry Sitsky, Richard Divall and Patrick Thomas. Also includes two letters from Patrick White terminating their friendship.
Folder 17 Correspondence with Lady Mary Fairfax, 1979
Also includes papers relating to the Art Gallery of NSW.
Folder 18-20 Correspondence relating to the Australian Opera, 1974-1982
Includes letters and clippings. Mostly relates to Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge.
Folder 21 Two letters and article about Joan Sutherland, 1981
Includes letter about Sutherland as a child.
Folder 22 Odds and ends' correspondence, 1980-1989
Much relating to Arts editorship of the Australian. Includes letter from Roger Woodward.
Folder 24 Correspondence, 1986-1988
Mostly relating to Arts editorship of the Australian. Includes letters from Roger Woodward, Vincent Buckley and Graham Powning,
Folder 25-26 Correspondence and personal papers, 1984-1990, 1999-2000
Mostly 1980s, with correspondence 1999-2000 regarding the Australian Dictionary of Biography entry for Curt Prerauer. Includes correspondence with Di Yerbury, speech notes about Marietta, and personal papers such as travel documents.
Folder 27-29 Correspondence, 1977-1991
Mostly 1980s-1990s correspondence relating to the Arts editorship of the Australian. Includes letters from Leo Schofield, Richard Divall, Trafford Whitelock, and Kathleen Norris.
Folder 30 Farewell card from staff at The Australian upon Marea's retirement, 1991
Cover features caricature of Marea by Max Foley.
Folder 32 Correspondence, 1991-1998
Mostly relating to Marea's reviews and columns for The Australian, The Bulletin, and 24 Hours magazine.
Series 6 Singing career of Marea Prerauer, 1926-1981
Marea Prerauer had a successful career as a soprano in Europe in the 1950s, and sang under her maiden name, Marea Wolkowsky. This series comprises contracts, programs, Eisteddfod certificates and judging comments, cuttings of newspaper stories and reviews, congratulatory correspondence and correspondence relating to auditions, papers relating to Curt, and shared personal papers such as travel documents. Also includes recordings of Marea singing.
The programs were originally loose and have been arranged chronologically by the Archivist.
Folder 1 Contracts and correspondence, 1934-1956
Includes contracts and correspondence with Royal Opera House, Convent Garden, and for other singing engagements. Also contains some papers and correspondence relating to Curt, such as references, including from Adrian Boult.
Folder 2-3 Cuttings, programs and some correspondence, 1937-1953
Includes some cuttings relating to Curt.
Folder 4-5a Correspondence, programs, posters, contracts, Eistedfodd reports and cuttings, 1926-1981
Includes travel documents for both Curt and Marea, photograph of Gwyneth Wolkowsky, and dance card for Gallipoli premiere ball. Folder 5a comprises a poster for performance at Landestheater Altenburg, 1929 (presumably belonging to Curt), and large poster advertising performance by Marea in the Netherlands in 1951. These oversized items have been placed in folder 5a and rehoused to elephant folio 1.
Folder 8 Programs and ephemera relating to Marea's performances, 1931-1941
For performances in Australia. Some annotated by Marea or family members.
Folder 9 Programs and ephemera relating to Marea's performances, 1950-1957
For performances in Germany, London, and Glasgow.
Folder 10 Programs for Wozzeck, 1953
Marea performed as 'Marie' in Alban Berg's opera in 1953 at the Royal Opera House, Convent Gardens. Some copies annotated.
Series 7 Creative writing by Marea Prerauer, 1929-c.1975
Comprises drafts and published versions of children's fiction and plays written by Marea Prerauer, who wrote fiction under her maiden name, Marea Wolkowsky. Some drafts are in German. Dates assigned to much of the material are approximate.
Folder 1-3 Various early writings, c.1930-c.1940
Includes typescript and handwritten stories, and some juvenilia and cuttings.
Folder 4 Scrapbook containing typescript of story 'The little tree', 1929-1938
Also contains German newspaper cuttings.
Folder 34 Typescripts of 'Elizabethan adventure', 'Der kleine baum', 'The little tree', and 'Chloe', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 36 Typescripts of 'The search for the bell bird', 'Ein Australisches marchen', and 'Waratah Inn', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 37 Typescripts of 'The three sisters', 'The search for the bellbird', and 'The magic wattles', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 38 Typescripts of 'The little tree', 'The enchanted forest' or 'The young artist of Casmena', and 'Wandi', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 51-53 Manuscripts and typescripts of 'Max's magic monster' or 'The mystery of our monster', c.1940-c.1965
Folder 54 Typescripts of 'Spiky urchin and Neddy Noddiwink', 'The enchanted forest' or 'The young artist of Casmena', 'Der flug eines falken', and 'The magic wattles', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 55 Typescripts of 'The black cockatoo', 'The three sisters', and 'The kookaburra who lost his laugh', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 56 Manuscript and typescript stories, including 'Clothes do not make the man', c.1940-c.1960
Also includes newspaper cuttings.
Folder 58 Annotate typescript of play 'Ducks', by Marea Prerauer and Peter Williams, c.1974-c.1975
Also includes newspaper cuttings.
Folder 59 Annotated typescripts of 'Neues Australienbuch', c.1950-c.1965
Also includes copy of Marea's will, 1964.
Folder 60 Various early writings, including radio plays, c.1934-c.1950
Also includes correspondence, Eisteddfod report, poems, and cuttings
Folder 61 Various early writings, including notebook with story drafts, c.1938-c.1946
Also includes poems, negatives, and a visitors book.
Folder 66 Manuscripts and annotated typescript drafts of stories, and reviews of Marea's books, c.1940-c.1960
Also includes poems, newspaper cuttings including articles by Curt, and copies of Tempo magazine
Folder 68-69 Published copies of Australian adventure and Perilous journey, 1947-1965
Comprises one copy of Perilous journey (1947), two copies of hardback English language Australian adventure (1965), one copy paperback English language Australian adventure (1968), one copy Swedish language Australian adventure (1963), one copy German language Australian adventure (1961).
Series 8 Journalism by Marea Prerauer, 1955-1997
This small series comprises typescripts and notes for reviews, research files, and notes for speeches.
Folder 6 Scripts of speeches, c.1975
Includes 'Writing with barbed wire - the confessions of a music critic', delivered to the National Council of Women, 1975, and an undated talk on Wozzeck.
Series 9 Marea Preruaer's papers on Australian arts bodies, 1971-1996
Comprises correspondence and other papers on the Australian Council for the Arts, the Australian Opera, the Elizabethan Theatre Trust, ABC orchestras and the NSW Conservatorium of Music. Marea had official roles on committees for some organisations, but many of her interactions were in her capacity as an arts critic.
This series has been arranged roughly by organisation and chronologically. Related correspondence can be found in Series 1 and Series 5.
Folder 1 Correspondence and reports relating to the Australian Council for the Arts and Opera Australia, 1971-1976
Includes correspondence relating to an award for writing on the arts in 1971, and articles and reports on the Sydney Opera House and the Australian Opera.
Folder 2 Correspondence and cuttings relating to the Australian Council for the Arts, 1973
Includes correspondence regarding the Australian National Anthem Quest, the 1971 arts writing award, and other Australian Council for the Arts matters. Includes correspondence from Gough Whitlam and H.C. Coombs.
Folder 3 Papers relating to the National Critics' Awards Committee / National Critics' Circle, 1975-1977
Includes correspondence, cuttings and minutes.
Folder 5 Correspondence regarding articles published by Marea about the Australia Council, 1983
Includes correspondence to, form and about Di Yerbury and Donald Horne.
Folder 6-7 Papers relating to the Australian Opera, 1971-1975
Includes correspondence, reports, articles, programs and cuttings.
Folder 8-9 Papers relating to Australian Opera funding, 1982-1985
Mostly documents about private and public campaigns about the Australian Opera and its funding. Includes a small amount of correspondence.
Folder 10-11 Policy documents relating to the Australian Opera, the Australia Council, the Elizabethan Theatre Trust and ABC orchestras, 1983-1985
Mostly relates to Australian Opera funding. Includes correspondence.
Series 10 Family papers of Curt Prerauer, 1916-1968
Much of this series comprises correspondence between family members and with legal advisers and the Australian government regarding claims for compensation for the family's shoe factory in Kamienogora, Poland (formerly Landeshut, Schlesien, Germany) which was seized by the German government prior to World War II. Many documents are in German.
Folder 1 Personal papers of Curt, 1924-c.1951
Small amount of papers relating to Curt Prerauer's family and career. Includes cuttings, postcard from Leo Blech, and photograph, possibly of Prerauer's father.
Folder 2-4 Family papers, mostly relating to claims for restitution of property, 1916-1952, 1967
Mainly correspondence, including between family members and of Curt's parents Felix and Gertrud Prerauer, including with Dr Richard Israel Marcuse, a Berlin-based consultant legal for Jewish people, and with London-based barrister Professor E.J. Cohn and other legal advisers, and the (Australian) Department of External Affairs.
Also contains original documents regarding ownership of property in Germany (later Poland) and personal official documents relating to migration to Australia.
Folder 5 Family papers, mostly relating to claims for restitution of property, 1959-1962
Bulk comprises correspondence with London-based barrister Professor E.J. Cohn, and Sydney-based solicitors, H.G. Levi and Co.
Folder 6-9 Family papers, mostly relating to claims for restitution of property, 1956-1962
Bulk comprises corresponence between Curt and his brother Hilary Pryer.
Series 11 Juvenilia and family papers of Marea Prerauer, 1926-1950
Comprises school reports and newsletters, family letters and memorabilia, and school magazines.
Series 12 Photographs c.1910-c.1991
Curt and Marea's family and personal photographs, photographs of Marea in opera roles, and some photographs of composers and actors.
Most photographs are unannotated, therefore those relating to the Wolkowsky and Prerauer families are housed together rather than arranged by subject.
Folder 1-3a Curt and Marea's family and personal photographs, c.1910-c.1982
Includes photographs of members of the Wolkowsky and Prerauer families, unidentified holiday photographs, photographs of Curt and Marea together and separately, and photographs of their home. Two oversized portraits of Marea c.1976 are housed in folder 3a, in folio box 60.
Series 13 Publications, ephemera, cuttings, press releases collected by Curt and Marea Prerauer, 1869-1998
This series includes published material about or by Curt and Marea, collected by them or sent to Marea in her role as critic. Some items are annotated or signed.
Folder 1-3 Newspaper cuttings about the Prerauers, family correspondence, creative writing and radio talks by Marea, and programs, 1911-1972
Includes Curt's 'Opera House letter' to the Sydney Morning Herald, published 27 February 1967, and copies of correspondence between the Prerauers and the Australian Military Mission, Berlin, 1954-1955.
Folder 4 Programs, newsletters, newspaper cuttings and other publications, 1933-1967
Includes several editions of Anglo-German Centre newsletter Die Brücke.
Folder 7 Publications, 1967-1994
The Bulletin, June 17, 1994; report of symposium 'Opera and the Australian composer', 1973; Vogue Australia January 1994.
Series 14 Published writings of Curt and Marea Prerauer, 1933-1969
Together and separately, the Prerauers wrote reviews, articles and columns for various publications, mostly music criticism but also on literature and culture more broadly. This series comprises cuttings, including the reviews the Prerauers wrote together for Nation. Curt also published music reviews in various other publications, including Progress, Wireless Weekly, The Broadcaster, ABC Weekly, The New Citizen and Tempo.
Marea's published writings after Curt's death are contained in Series 14. Copies of some of her fiction books are contained in Series 7. Some cuttings of their work are in Series 13.
Folder 4-5 Cuttings of Curt's musical criticism for Tempo, 1946-1949
Also includes some full copies of Tempo.
Folder 7-9 Cuttings of reviews and articles by Curt and Marea, 1950-1969
Labelled 'C. & M. Prerauer's most distinguished works'. Comprises mostly their music reviews in Nation, 1961-1969, and some reviews in other publications such as Musical Courier.
Folder 10-11 Cuttings of musical criticism, mostly by Curt, for various publications including The Sun, 1961-1968
Series 15 Published writings of Marea Prerauer, 1963-2005
Comprises cuttings from Nation, The Sunday Australian, The Australian and The Bulletin.
Includes Marea's musical criticism, arts gossip columns, book reviews and interviews. Marea also kept full runs of the Arts section of The Australian, which she edited, 1976-1991.
Bag 12 Cuttings from various publications including The Sun Herald, BMW, The Australian Magazine, 24 Hours, HQ, The Bulletin, and The Bugle, 1991-1998
Bag 13 News Limited files of Marea's articles for The Daily Telegraph, The Australian and The Weekend Australian, 1972-1978
Bag 14 News Limited files of Marea's articles for The Australian and The Weekend Australian, 1979-1982
Bag 15 News Limited files of Marea's articles for The Australian and The Weekend Australian, 1984-1986
Container List
| Series | Folders/Pieces | Box |
| 1 | 1-10 | 1 |
| 1 | 11-20 | 2 |
| 1 | 21-30 | 3 |
| 1 | 31-35 | 4 |
| 2 | 5, 8-9, 11 | 4 |
| 2 | 1-4 | Folio Box 5 |
| 2 | 6-7, 10, 14 | Folio Box 6 |
| 2 | 12-13, 15 | 7 |
| 3 | 1-5 | 7 |
| 3 | 6-14 | 8 |
| 3 | 15-24 | 9 |
| 3 | 25-34 | 10 |
| 4 | 1-10 | 11 |
| 4 | 11, 12-16 | 12 |
| 4 | 11a | HW Map Drawer 23 |
| 5 | 1-3 | 12 |
| 5 | 4-13 | 13 |
| 5 | 14-23 | 14 |
| 5 | 24-29, 31-34 | 15 |
| 5 | 30 | Folio Box 60 |
| 6 | 1-5, 6-10 | 16 |
| 6 | 5a | HW Map Drawer 23 |
| 6 | 11 | 17 |
| 6 | 12 | Folio Box 60 |
| 7 | 1-9 | 17 |
| 7 | 10-19 | 18 |
| 7 | 20-30 | 19 |
| 7 | 31-41 | 20 |
| 7 | 42-51 | 21 |
| 7 | 52-62 | 22 |
| 7 | 63-69 | 23 |
| 8 | 1-9 | 24 |
| 9 | 1-2 | 24 |
| 9 | 3-12 | 25 |
| 9 | 13-18 | 26 |
| 10 | 1-4 | 26 |
| 10 | 5-13 | 27 |
| 11 | 1-5 | 28 |
| 12 | 1-3, 4-5 | 28 |
| 12 | 3a | Folio Box 60 |
| 12 | 6-7 | 29 |
| 13 | 1-9 | 29 |
| 13 | 10-14 | 30 |
| 13 | 15-18 | 31 |
| 13 | 19-23 | 32 |
| 14 | 1-9 | 33 |
| 14 | 10-15 | 34 |
| 15 | 1-4 | 35 |
| 15 | 5-10 | 36 |
| 15 | 11-14 | 37 |
| 15 | 15-18 | 38 |
| 15 | 19-22 | 39 |
| 15 | 23-25 | 40 |
| 15 | 26-27 | 41 |
| 15 | 28-29 | 42 |
| 15 | 30-31 | 43 |
| 15 | 32-33 | 44 |
| 15 | 34-35 | 45 |
| 15 | 36-37 | 46 |
| 15 | 38-40 | 47 |
| 15 | 41-43 | 48 |
| 15 | 44-46 | 49 |
| 15 | 47-48 | 50 |
| 15 | 49-50 | 51 |
| 15 | 51-52 | 52 |
| 15 | 53-54 | 53 |
| 15 | 55 | 54 |
| 15 | 56-57 | 55 |
| 15 | 58-59 | 56 |
| 15 | 60-62 | 57 |
| 15 | 63-64 | 58 |
| 15 | 65 | 59 |