Oct. 30, 1910

... On the 7th of November you will hear "Sea-drift" - Kapellmeister Karl Schuricht - I should so much like to come but I am afraid that it is quite impossible. I shall most likely be in Germany end of November & be present at Percy Grainger's concert. ...

On 4 November Delius left Grez for Frankfurt to hear Schuricht give Sea Drift on the 7th.

Sept. 20, 1913

... And also I would like to know when the performance by Schuricht of the Mass is to take place in Frankfurt? ...

March 20, 1925

... It was only at the last minute that I learned that Schuricht, who, by the way, devoted himself to the work with great love, had undertaken certain alternations in the choral parts & also in the instrumentation. I am sorry to say that he did not ask my advice beforehand. The alternations in the choral parts are not of great consequence, and they do make it easier for his still new choir. However I could hear at once that the orchestral alternations diminished the orchestra too much & affected the timbre, something which I told Schuricht immediately. Also he had left out the 2nd Tanzlied completely - just one of the best parts of the work. ...
I felt however very distressed that the general opinion seemed to be that my work was really only "finished" by Schuricht's arrangement. I enclosed an article from the Wiesbadener Tageblatt (Doorn) which gives a terribly erroneous impression. Some people who had read it and who had also attended the Vienna performance were quite taken aback and thought the Mass had been much better in the original version in Vienna.
I hope you will understand my dilemma. The splendid Schuricht took enormously great pains, is so enthusiastic, the success was unbelievable, enthusiasm etc. He now wants to repeat the Mass in May & then do the Tanzlied, too, & for then do away with many of his orchestral alternations. But if the other conductors think the Mass may be done in Schuricht's "arrangement" only, this would do me a great deal of harm. I can absolutely not permit this arrangement to be used for other performances...
I have already told Schuricht this myself when I said goodbye...
As long as I live, alternations, cuts etc. may only be made with my permission.

March 28, 1925

... So I took him (Frederick) to Wiesbaden instead to hear the work done by Schuricht. It was an excellent performance and really Fred enjoyed it ever so much; and the whole thing - the atmosphere of music - quite took him out of himself. The Chorus was absolutely first rate. They took splendid tempi, most rhythmic and precise in the quick sections and softest pppp where needed.

March 30, 1925

... We breathed the delicious atmosphere of orchestral rehearsals - questions about the score, corrections of mistakes, talks about music - etc. Schuricht the conductor consecrated every free moment to his "geliebte Meister" and was so exhausted after the performance that we waited for him in vain; but when we were safely in bed he came with his young wife and the leader, a very black little man and said he could not go to bed before hugged the master and we spent a charming hour together.
Naturally I was made the confidante of all poor Schurichts matrimonial troubles and indeed they would be an admirable subject for a book - the solution not yet arrived at. Both wives, the resolute helpful old one, and the pretty, callous new young one - His best friend now married to the old wife - but both of them, husband and wife, so absolutely devoted to Schuricht that they linger at Wiesbaden - the child from the first marriage - a 5 months terrible illness of the little new wife - her desire for Dances and amusement, her jealousy, the old one's unerring motherliness to Schuricht, the unpractical phantastic rather megalomaniac little man! Always wavering between the two!

Letters from Carl Schuricht to Frederick Delius is available in the Archive for Letters..

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