Christmas in Vienna
Vienna Boys Choir
Gerald Wirth, artistic director
Sunday, November 29, 4 pm
Hill Auditorium
| Main Floor | $36 · $30 · $24 · $14 |
| Mezzanine | $26 · $22 · $10 |
| Balcony | $18 · $14 · $12 · $10 |
Six years after Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World, Emperor Maximilian I moved his court and his court musicians, including six singing boys, to Vienna. That date is now etched in history as the founding of the famous Vienna Boys Choir, which alongside the Lipizzaner stallions, sacher torte, and wienerschnitzel, are the very essence of the city. The Choir’s long existence is evidenced by its relationships with Franz Schubert (a former chorister), Mozart, Salieri, and Bruckner, each of whom wrote for the group. Until 1918, the choir sang exclusively for the imperial court; after the breakdown of the Hapsburg Empire, the Austrian government allowed the boys choir to fl ourish as an independent, private institution. The boys were soon giving concerts outside the chapel and doing worldwide tours, including their first UMS appearance more than 75 years ago in 1933. Today, around 100 choristers between the ages of 10 and 14 are divided into four touring choirs, which continue to delight music lovers with their purity of tone, distinctive charm, and a diverse, crowd-pleasing repertoire. Long a subject of fascination, the Vienna Boys Choir will be featured in a 2009 documentary film entitled Silk Road – Songs Along the Road and Time, showcasing the globetrotting choristers during a year in their home in Vienna and on tour, working with artists from Central Asia, China, and India.
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