VIENNA BOYS’ CHOIR

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22717, 23 May 1939, Page 3

VIENNA BOYS’ CHOIR

DELIGHTFUL SINGING

GAIETY AND HIGH SPIRITS

Beautiful singing by the Vienna Mozart Boys’ Choir delighted another Theatre Royal audience last evening. The musical fare that these youngsters and their distinguished conductor, Dr. Georg Gruber, bring to the city is relished, of course, by musicians, but it has a wider appeal. It is presented simply and unaffectedly by artists who, though musicians, are primarily very boyish and high-spirited boys. The audience was unfeignedly enthusiastic about the music play, “Tales from the Vienna Woods,” an amusing story told in witty dialogue and in the popular idiom of Strauss’s well-known waltz tunes. It was an irrepressibly gay and high-spirited performance which won for the principals the warm appreciation of the audience. The programme, which opened with four part songs of diverse character and a Mozart “Laudate Dominum,” was as varied as it was effective. The part songs of this section were those of sixteenth-century musicians of various schools; the chior sang with beautiful control and sensitiveness “O, Demine Jesu” (M. A. Ingignerius). “Qui Manducat” (J. Gallus), “Aleph Quomodo” (J. L. de Victoria) and “Canite tuba in Sion” (Gallus), the last having a superlative swing and spirit The “Laudate Dominum” was superb work, too, a splendid solo voice being heard.

After the play the choir turned its attention to examples of canon writing, in which clean attack and precision were responsible largely for the splendid effect. Mexican, Austrian, an Swiss folk songs led to lighter numbers, which included “Home on the Range” and the popular “Blue Danube,” the former being conducted by one of the boys. Mention must be made in this part of the programme, too. of the delicate concerted and solo singing of the well-known Mozart “Cradle Song.”

The programme will be repeated in the choir’s final concerts in the city this afternoon and evening.

CIVIC RECEPTION FOR BOYS’ CHOIR

WELCOME BY MAYOR OF CHRISTCHURCH.

Welcomong the Vienna Mozart Boys’ Choir at a civic reception yesterday, the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane) congratulated the boys on (he high standard of their performances and mentioned that two world-famous musicians, Haydn and Schubert, had once been members of the Vienna boys' choir.

Representing the musical societies and music teachers of Christchurch, Mr F. A. Bullock said that the most important thing arising from such a visit was not the success of the voices of the choir; but the quality of the songs that wore sung. He said that too many visiting artists with fine voices were inclined to sing numbers not worthy of their voices. Commending the choir on the high quality of tim renderings. he said that it was doing a great service for music. Replying for Ihe boys, the conductor CDr. Georg Gruber) endorsed Mr Bullock’s views and said that he was pleased to see that Christchurch people could appreciate music as the Viennese did. He wished that people all over the world could see music from the same view. He thanked the Mayor for his hearty welcome and assured him that the choir would never forget its stay in Christchurch.