FAMOUS CHOIR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 61, 14 March 1939, Page 11

FAMOUS CHOIR

VIENNESE BOYS

DELAYED BY NAZIS

How the German annexation of Austria last year indirectly affected music lovers in New Zealand was explained man interview with "The Post" today by Mr. D. D. O'Connor, of London, who arrived from Sydney by the Wanganella to complete arrangements for the forthcoming tour of the Vienna Mozart Boys' Choir. ' ' | Mr. O'Connor said that the choir was to have visited New Zealand last year but the Austrian Anschluss temporarily upset the plans. However, contracts i had been entered into on behalf of the .choir and when representations were made to the Nazi authorities by the United States Consul no objections were raised to the departure of the j boys. - Arrangements for the 20 boys in the choir to be granted leave of absence from their studies were made with the former Austrian Department of Education, Mr. O'Connor said. Originally there were three choir schools iri Vienna, but they were amalgamated by the Austrian Department of Education. The boys, who were very carefully selected for attendance at the school, received an excellent secular education in addition to their musical training. Their education was continued to the age of 18, whether the'if voices had broken or not. At the school they wore a beautiful uniform which had been associated with the school for centuries. Josef Haydn, the "father of music," took an interest iri the choir 300 years ago and wrote many works for it. On anniversary occasions some of his compositions were still sung by the choir from the original manuscripts; The choir's repertory for the present tour included an operetta by the famous composer. LESSONS IN ENGLISH. "People who hav.e heard the choir when New Zealand was visited in 1935 will recall that all the songs were sung in German then;" said Mr. O'Connor, "but on this occasion they will present an operetta and several songs in English. A tutor is accompanying the boys; and their studies include an hour daily on the English language. Of course, the boys have a distinct foreign accent, but they have a good ear. For instance, on a recent visit to Ireland they leafrit in Gaelic a beautiful modern composition by Carl HardebeCk, a blind Dublin organ-1 ist. It is called 'Deirdre's Lament,' and has caused a sensation wherever it has been sung. In New York the lament was sung and the boys were complimented on the, excellence of their Gaelic accent. They learnt the words phonetically. "The choir is now in the United States, and President Roosevelt has become a great admirer of its work. It sang at the annual dinner of the' Democratic Party in Boston, where the President was the guest of honour. Mr. Roosevelt arranged for the choir to give at his expense a free public performance in the hall of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. There were 15,000 present, and so many were turned away that the President arranged for a second performance. Before leaving the United States for Auckland the choir will visit Washington' for the purpose of giving a special concert." FORTHCOMING TOU&S. Mr. O'Connor said there was great activity in the music and dramatic fields just now, and he understood that New Zealand was to be included in a number of notable tours that were being planned. He said that in Australia he saw the play "The Women," which is coming to the Dominion. Whether one liked it or not the play was provocative and was drawing large audiences. • He also saw "Idiot's Delight," by Robert Sherwood, which dealt With Communism and Fascism, and noted the close attention with which Australian audiences followed the serious parts of the play. He did riot know whether that play was to be brought to New Zealand. The Dominion was always looked upon as a good "show country," arid was for that reason likely to be included in any theatfical tours in the Southern Hemisphere.