[F. Delius]. Series of eleven letters written to Delius by Arthur and Marie Krönig in Berlin, 1896-1898

[DELIUS, FREDERICK]

Eleven letters to Delius, about Mitternachtslied Zarathustras and Koanga, written by his first cousin Arthur Krönig and his wife Marie, 1896-1898

in German, discussing the state of the opera company in Berlin, and the prospects of Delius being able to have his opera Koanga produced there, reporting that Weingartner is ill and will not conduct, Karl Muck has no influence on the choice of operas, only Herr Pierson, and that until the end of the season only Thiulle's Lobetanz and Bungert's Odysseus will be performed, thanks him for the [Zarathustra] song, but advises against using Nietzsche's poems ("...Nietzsche halte ich zur musikalischen Verarbeitung unmöglich. Er ist zu wenig Dichter..."), praises Delius's new songs to Norwegian words, suggesting he sets Jens Jacobsen's poem "In langen Jahren büßen" and also mentioning Busoni and Kulenkampff

50 pages, 8vo, numbered by the recipient in pencil (2-10), in violet ink, a first letter apparently missing and the final two unnumbered, 4 envelopes (stamps removed), Berlin, 22 December 1896 to 11 December [?1898]

Arthur Krönig (1853-1900), was the son of Albertine Delius and thus Frederick's first cousin. He held the post of district court judge in Berlin and was an amateur composer and pianist. In 1898 Delius composed (and dedicated to Krönig) the Mitternachtslied Zarathustras for baritone solo, men’s chorus and full orchestra, doubtless prompting Krönig's remarks about Nietzsche. Delius later expanded this setting of Nietzsche's famous poem "O Mensch! Gib acht! Was spricht die tiefe Mitternacht?", into the last movement of his epic work A Mass of Life (1905). The text was also used by Mahler in his Third Symphony (1902). 

Delius composed Koanga in 1896-1897 to a libretto by Charles Francis Keary and was keen to find a German theatre prepared to stage it publicly. The opera was performed privately in March 1899 at the residence of Adela Maddison in Paris (Fauré was among the performers). The hoped-for production in Berlin did not materialize, although selections from the opera were performed at St James's Hall, London, on 30 May 1899.

There are five letters by Arthur (in Kurrentschrift), five by his wife Marie (mainly in Roman script) and one 12-page letter jointly written. Arthur was suffering from illnesses at this time, prompting Marie to write on his behalf. Delius was eventually to receive a small inheritance from Arthur's mother, his Aunt Albertine.