VIENNA BOYS HERE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 89, 17 April 1939, Page 8

VIENNA BOYS HERE.

CHORISTERS ARRIVE.

FOR TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Twenty small boys dressed in dark grey uniforms lined the rail of the Monterey this morning- and chattered excitedly at the prospect of a six weeks' stay in a new country.

They were the members of the Vienna Mozart Boys' Choir, arrived to begin a tour of New Zealand and Australia. Real boys they are, too, for as soon ae the ■boat touched the wharf over went a shower of streamers. Though Auckland hat; probably not seen a streamer welcome before, it certainly showed that they were gjad to be here. With them on the tour is Dr. Georg Gruber, musical director, while the party also hae a matron, Mrs. H. Marsh, of Melbourne, and a school master, Dr. Otto Sternberg.

In December the choir left Vienna on this world tour. United States being the first country visited. Seventy concerts were given, and the. lads also aj>(>eared at San Francisco's Golden Gate Exposition. Oa the way out the 'boys gave recitals at Honolulu and Suva.

Dr. Gruber who trains the choir, explained this morning that the boys ranged in age from 9 years to 15 years. A boy generally spent three years in the choir as a soprano and one as an alto. Born and bred in Vienna, Dr. Gruber was himself a choir boy for four years, afterwards tafeing up teaching.

"Vienna is still the great city, musically, that it has always been," said Dr. Gruber. "Music forms a great part of life in my country." In Vienna Dr. Gruber is official choirmaster for the city, and during each year some 8000 boy singers come under his tuition.

A reception was accorded the party of 23 on arrival by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, and later the 'boys were the guests of the Rotary Club at its luncheon.

Function in Town Hall. In his room at the Town Hall the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, welcomed the boys to New Zealand. Vienna was recognised as the home of music, said Sir Ernest, adding that he had himself visited that city. Auckland had appreciated the visit of the last choir which Avaa here and also appreciated the visit of this one. It was then Sir Ernest's turn to be entertained and the boys sang for him an old Viennese folk song.