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.

Access

Available for research

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.

Reference(s):
John Carmody, Warren A. Bebbington, 'Prerauer, Kurt (Curt) (1901 - 1967)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 16, Melbourne University Press, 2002, pp 28-29. Also available online at www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160033b.htm
Frank Devine, 'Lifetime on and off the stage', The Australian, 31 May 2006.
Diana Simmonds, 'Maria Prerauer, 1922 - 2006', The Bulletin, 7 June 2006.
Evan Williams, 'Excellence in words and music', Sydney Morning Herald, 15 June 2006.



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 7 Correspondence, 1954-1960

Mostly relating to Marea's musical career.

Folder 8 Correspondence, 1959

Marea's mother's letters to Curt and Marea overseas.

Folder 9 Correspondence, 1954-1959

Includes much with William James.

Folder 10-11 Correspondence, 1953-1957

Mostly with opera companies and managers.

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 14 Correspondence with individuals, R-Z, 1958-1967

Includes Hal Porter and Roger Woodward.

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 16 Correspondence, 1959-1967

Mostly between Curt and the ABC.

Folder 17-18 Correspondence with Peter Sculthorpe, 1962-1966
Folder 19-20 Business correspondence, 1957-1966

Mostly between Curt and publishers.

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 22 Personal correspondence, 1959-1967
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 25 German correspondence, 1933, 1956-1967
Folder 26 German correspondence, 1957-1967
Folder 27 Correspondence relating to radio and royalties, 1956-1966

Mostly in German. Includes contracts.

Folder 28 Correspondence with European radio stations, 1956-1968
Folder 29-30 Correspondence with publishers, 1960-1969
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.

Folder 34 Correspondence and other papers relating to medical, household, legal and financial matters, 1957-1966
Folder 35 Correspondence, 1959-1967

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 1 Various manuscript scores, some by Curt, c.1920-c.1950
Bag 2 Various manuscript scores, some by Curt, c.1920-c.1950
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.

Bag 7 Partial score of Wozzeck by Alban Berg, c.1925
Bag 8 Score of Symphonie No. 2 by Johannes Brahms, 1920
Bag 9 Score of Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn, c.1920
Bag 10 Scores of Punch and Judy by Harrison Birtwistle, and Lieder und Gesänge by Brecht / Dessau, c.1963
Bag 11 Songs of all nations, c.1940
Bag 12 The midsummer marriage by Michael Tippett, 1954
Folder 13 Libretto and notes for Lindy, by Moya Henderson and Judith Rodriguez, 2001
Bag 14 Various published scores, titles unclear, c.1930-c.1960
Folder 15 Lists and valuation of music in the Prerauers' collection, 1960-1968

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 7 German radio scripts, 1956-1963
Folder 8 German radio scripts, 1956-1966

Includes talks on Patrick White.

Folder 9 Articles and radio scripts, c.1965-1973

Articles by Curt and Marea, mostly in German, possibly for radio.

Folder 10 Articles and radio scripts, c.1960-c.1967

Mostly in German.

Folder 11-12 Musical criticism, radio scripts and translations, c.1966-1967

Some in German.

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 20-21 Notes and drafts for musical criticism and other writing, c.1960-1967
Folder 22 Book reviews by Marea, 1954-1967

Mostly typescripts, with some cuttings

Folder 23 Reviews for The Bulletin, 1963-1970

Handwritten and typescript. Also includes some correspondence.

Folder 24 Miscellaneous typescript pages of reviews, c.1960s

Five pages.

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.

Folder 29-33 Drafts of 'Das haben wir in Italien gesehen' ('We saw that in Italy'), c.1950s

Annotated typescripts in German.

Folder 34 Drafts of 'Fruchtbare unfruchtbarkeit heutiges Australien', by Curt, c.1960-c.1967

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 4-8 Annotated typescript drafts of German translation of Riders in the chariot, 1962-1963
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 10 Proof of translated Riders in the chariot, c.1968

Pages 201-268 only.

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 12-13 German reviews of Riders in the chariot, 1969

Sent to Marea by Patrick White.

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.

Folder 15 Annotated proof of Curt and Marea Prerauer's introduction to Zeitgenossische Australische lyrik, c.1960

Includes translation of Waltzing Matilda.

Folder 16 Typescripts of translation of Summer of the seventeenth doll, c.1957

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 2 Business correspondence and contracts, mostly with German publishers, 1968-1983
Folder 3 Correspondence, including letters about Curt's death, 1968-1972

Includes some correspondence relating to the Australian Council for the Arts.

Folder 4 Correspondence with publishers and radio stations, 1968-1969

Includes speech notes.

Folder 5 Small notebook containing drafts of letters, c.1970
Folder 6 Correspondence and papers relating to adjudicating Australian Opera auditions, 1972
Folder 7 'Letters pertaining to Brisbane', 1971-1975

Includes letters from Richard Divall, Larry Sitsky and Patrick Thomas.

Folder 8 'Letters pertaining to Western Australia', 1972-1973
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 13 Correspondence with Grove's dictionary of music and musicians, 1974-1976
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 23 Notes on Czech musician Přemysl Kočí sent to Marea, 1981
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 31 Letters and cuttings regarding Marea's retirement from The Australian, 1991
Folder 32 Correspondence, 1991-1998

Mostly relating to Marea's reviews and columns for The Australian, The Bulletin, and 24 Hours magazine.

Folder 33 Correspondence, 1997-1998

Small number of letters, including one from Senator Richard Alston.

Folder 34 Correspondence, 1996-2001

Mostly letters of congratulation to Marea for being awarded the Order of Australia in 2001.

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 6 Cuttings of international performance reviews, 1950-1955
Folder 7 Eistedfodd program and certificates, 1937
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.

Folder 11 Programs and ephemera relating to Marea's performances, 1953-1960

For performances in Australia, Germany, Barcelona, Lisbon, London. Includes programs for Strauss's Elektra, Royal Opera House, Convent Gardens in 1953. Includes some cuttings.

Bag 12 Recordings of performances by Marea, 1953

Comprises four records of Marea performing in Wozzeck, 6 September 1953, and a reel recording of Marea in Elektra. Marea has marked 'sounds awful, tape badly damaged'.

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 5-6 Manuscript 'Perilous journey', c.1940-c.1945
Folder 7-9 Typescripts of 'Perilous journey' or 'Elizabethan adventure', c.1940-c.1947
Folder 10-11 Typescripts of 'Perilous journey', c.1940-c.1947
Folder 12-13 Manuscript of 'Knight on a broomstick', c.1940-c.1945
Folder 14-17 Typescripts of 'Knight on a broomstick', c.1940-c.1945
Folder 18-19 Typescripts of 'Knight on a broomstick', c.1940-c.1945
Folder 20-21 Typescript of 'Knight on a broomstick', c.1940-c.1945
Folder 22-23 Manuscript of 'Adventure bound', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 24-29 Typescripts of 'Adventure bound', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 30 Manuscript 'Waratah Inn', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 31-32 Typescripts 'Waratah Inn', c.1945-c.1960
Folder 33 Mansucript 'Wandi : the story of a little Aborigine', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 34 Typescripts of 'Elizabethan adventure', 'Der kleine baum', 'The little tree', and 'Chloe', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 35 Typescripts of 'The magic music', 'Sputnik', 'The search for the bellbird', 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 39 Manuscript of 'The scarlet bow', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 40-41 Typescript of 'The scarlet bow', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 42-43 Typescripts of 'Farewell to music', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 44-47 Typescripts of 'Australian adventure', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 48 Annotated typescript of 'Under the Southern Cross', c.1940-c.1960
Folder 49-50 Typescripts of 'Under the Southern Cross', 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 57 Typescript of play set in colonial Sydney, c.1940-c.1965
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 62-63 Two notebooks containing story drafts, c.1940-c.1960
Folder 64-65 Various manuscript and typescript drafts, c.1940-c.1960
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 67 Markers for Marea's original filing system for her fiction, c.1940-c.1970
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 1-5 Annotated typescripts for newspaper articles and columns, c.1972
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.

Folder 7 Typescripts of articles and reports for The Sunday Australian, The Australian, 24 Hours magazine and Opera magazine, 1976-1982

Also includes business correspondence.

Folder 8 Drafts and research notes for articles and interviews, 1955-1997
Folder 9 Notes and articles on David Helfgott, 1997

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 4 Papers relating to the Australia Council, mostly to the Music Board, 1971-1975
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.

Folder 12 Papers relating to the Australian Opera, 1985-1986

Includes cuttings of Marea's articles and other material related to the Australian Opera financial crisis, comments over staff drinking, and the appointment of Donald McDonald.

Folder 13-16 Reviews, notes and ephemera on opera, 1991-1996

Mostly cuttings of Marea's reviews.

Folder 17 Reviews and notes on opera, 1994-1995
Folder 18 Copy of report by Roger Woodward to Neville Wran on the NSW Conservatorium of Music, c.1981

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.

Folder 10-11 Family papers, mostly relating to claims for restitution of property, 1956, 1963-1968

Mainly correspondence with E.J. Cohn.

Folder 12-13 Family papers, mostly relating to claims for restitution of property, 1933, 1952-1959

Series 11 Juvenilia and family papers of Marea Prerauer, 1926-1950

Comprises school reports and newsletters, family letters and memorabilia, and school magazines.

Folder 1-2 Family correspondence, ephemera and cuttings, 1926-1950

Comprises mostly correspondence between Marea and her grandmother. Also includes some creative writing by Marea.

Folder 3 School certificates, correspondence, creative writing manuscripts and cuttings, 1934-1945
Folder 4 Family correspondence, creative writing manuscripts and Eisteddfod certificates, 1936-1938
Folder 5 Five copies of The Babbler, the magazine of the North Sydney Girls' High School, 1936-1941

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.

Folder 4-6 Marea's career photographs, c.1932-c.1991

Includes portraits of Marea, photographs in costume and with cast members in various operas, including Elektra, and photographs of Marea's retirement from The Australian.

Folder 7 Photographs of Roger Woodward, Pierre Bowley, Jerzy Romaniuk, Karlheinz Stockhausen in rehearsals, 1972

Also includes one photograph of Clifford Grant in Hagen, San Francisco Opera, 1972.

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 5 Opera program, and reference paper on Australian art by Alan McCulloch, 1941-1957
Folder 6 Newspaper cuttings, 1961-1964
Folder 7 Publications, 1967-1994

The Bulletin, June 17, 1994; report of symposium 'Opera and the Australian composer', 1973; Vogue Australia January 1994.

Folder 8 Newspaper cuttings and press releases, 1995-1998
Folder 9 Punch magazine, 18 May 1910

King Edward VIII : Mr Punch's Loyal Tribute'.

Bag 10-20 Editions of Nation magazine - some annotated, mostly full copies, 1958-1972

These are not a full run of Nation but most issues for some years.

Bag 21-23 Miscellaneous books and programs, 1869-1998

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 1-2 Cuttings of musical criticism by Curt Prerauer for various publications, 1933-1951
Folder 3 Cuttings of musical criticism by Curt for various publications, 1937-1949
Folder 4-5 Cuttings of Curt's musical criticism for Tempo, 1946-1949

Also includes some full copies of Tempo.

Folder 6 Cuttings of Curt's musical criticism for Tempo, 1946-1949
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
Folder 12 Cuttings of musical criticism by Curt for various publications, 1959-1966

Comprises mostly Nation cuttings.

Folder 13-15 Full copies of journals containing articles by Curt, 1947-1965

Includes Österreichische Musikzeitschrift, Gehört-gelesen, Kosmos, Vision, Erdkunde in der schule, Architectural Science Review, and Opera.

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 1 Cuttings from various publications including Nation and The Sun, 1969-1972
Bag 2 Cuttings from The Sunday Australian, 1971
Bag 3 Cuttings from The Sunday Australian, 1972
Bag 4 Cuttings from The Sunday Telegraph and The Sunday Australian, 1973
Bag 5 Cuttings from The Sunday Telegraph, 1973-1974
Bag 6 Cuttings from The Sunday Telegraph, 1974-1975
Bag 7 Cuttings from the Daily Telegraph, 1974-1975
Bag 8 Cuttings from various publications, including The Weekend Australian, 1988-1990
Folder 9 Cuttings of features on Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras, 1987-1991
Bag 10 Cuttings from The Australian, 1988-1993
Bag 11 Cuttings from The Australian and The Australian Magazine, 1988-1994
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
Bag 16 Cuttings from The Bulletin, 1963-1971
Folder 17 Cuttings and proofs of 'Marietta' columns for The Bulletin, 1995-1996
Bag 18 Cuttings of 'Marietta' columns for The Bulletin, 1993-1998
Bag 19 Cuttings of 'Marietta' columns for The Bulletin, 1994-1999
Bag 20 Cuttings of articles for The Bulletin, 1991-2000

Includes the last 'Marietta' column in March 1999.

Bag 21 Editions of Opera magazine containing contributions by Marea, 2000-2005
Folder 22 Three miscellaneous publications with contributions by Marea, 1976-1993
Bag 23 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, August 1975 - March 1976
Bag 24 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, April 1976 - July 1976
Bag 25 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, August 1976 - November 1976
Bag 26 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, December 1976 - April 1977
Bag 27 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, May 1977 - August 1977
Bag 28 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, September 1977 - February 1978
Bag 29 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, March 1978 - June 1978
Bag 30 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, July 1978 - September 1978
Bag 31 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, October 1978 - March 1979
Bag 32 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, April 1979 - August 1979
Bag 33 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, September 1979 - December 1979
Bag 34 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, January 1980 - June 1980
Bag 35 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, July 1980 - September 1980
Bag 36 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, October 1980 - March 1981
Bag 37 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, April 1981 - July 1981
Bag 38 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, August 1981 - December 1981
Bag 39 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, January 1982 - March 1982
Bag 40 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, April 1982 - July 1982
Bag 41 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, August 1982 - November 1982
Bag 42 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, December 1982 - February 1983
Bag 43 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, March 1983 - June 1983
Bag 44 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, July 1983 - September 1983
Bag 45 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, October 1983 - January 1984
Bag 46 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, February 1984 - April 1984
Bag 47 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, May 1984 - August 1984
Bag 48 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, September 1984 - December 1984
Bag 49 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, January 1985 - April 1985
Bag 50 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, May 1985 - August 1985
Bag 51 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, September 1985 - January 1986
Bag 52 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, February 1986 - June 1986
Bag 53 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, July 1986 - November 1986
Bag 54 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, December 1986 - April 1987
Bag 55 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, May 1987 - October 1987
Bag 56 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, November 1987 - April 1988
Bag 57 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, May 1988 - August 1988
Bag 58 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, September 1988 - January 1989
Bag 59 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, February 1989 - June 1989
Bag 60 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, July 1989 - September 1989
Bag 61 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, September 1989 - December 1989
Bag 62 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, January 1990 - April 1990
Bag 63 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, April 1990 - July 1990
Bag 64 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, August 1990 - October 1990
Bag 65 Cuttings of Arts section of The Australian, November 1990 - May 1991


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