Singing Boys Delight Large Audiences

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 124, 29 May 1939, Page 8

Singing Boys Delight Large Audiences

RARE ARTISTRY OF VIENNA MOZART CHOIR

Largo audiences at the Opera House on Saturday afternoon and evening were transported to the world of real music as presented by the sweet-voiced members of the Vienna Alozart Boys’ Choir under the direction of their eminent conductor, Dr. Georg Gruber. It was an experience and a privilege that will be treasured as something all too rare of hearing choral music sung with' such restraint and by a quality of voices that was almost ethereal. Admirably disciplined and responsive to every movement of their conductor, the boys convinced by their sincerity of whole-hearted enjoyment in their work, particularly in the operetta “Tho Deceived Cadi” (von Gluck), so simply presented, which gave scope for delightful solo work and to demonstrate histrionic ability and a decided flair for comedy by the boy in the title role. From the opening number, “Christ Is Reborn,” tho oldest German Easter hymn, which disclosed exquisite harmony and modulation of the twenty young vocalists, and tho contrasting madrigals, in which there was lovely pianissimo and a soloist with a beautiful bell-like voice, and the two German folk songs which comprised the first portion of the programme, the audience was enthralled. Following the operetta, the third part of the programme included two old English madrigals about the year 1600, and a group of folk songs from different lands with amazing vocal effects and colour, particularly “The Bagpipers,” “The Nightingale and the Frog,” and a “Serenade” in which the singers gave clever imitations of orchestral instruments. A little variation was provided with a senior boy conducting the choir for a sympathetic rendering of “The Last Rose of Summer” and 11 Aloha, ’ ’ spontaneous applause throughout testifying to the great enjoyment of those privileged to hear such music. Having been accommodated at hotels for the greater part of their tour, the boys were delighted on learning that they were to be billeted privately in Palmerston North and they showed their appreciation in their singing which was considered by those connected with the choir to be better than in any of their previous performances during the present tour.