AN INTERESTING CAREER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22744, 3 December 1935, Page 16

AN INTERESTING CAREER

MADAME HENNY MARSI AND THE VIENNA BOYS’ CHOIR The Vienna Boys’ Choir did not begin to give public performances till 1923, though it was founded in the fifteenth century by the Holy Roman Emperor.

Maximilian 11, according to Madame Henny Marsi, who is accompanying the choir. Madame Marsi, who is Viennese herself, and has travelled between Melbourne and Vienna during the last four years, spoke of the history of the choir and the life led by the boys in an interview in ■ Christchurch. In Vienna, she said, the choir gave only one concert a year, but sang masses every Sunday in the former Imperial palace. “In English choirs,” said Madame Marsi, “ boys sing falsetto till they are 16, after their voices have broken, and in the Sistine Choir they are very strictly dieted to retard their development and so postpone the breaking of their voices. But these methods are adopted at the sacrifice of quality. But in this choir it does not matter if the boys stop singing at 13. They are given the best of diet, so that they will be strong and healthy, for the quality of the voice depends largely on the health of the body. Singing de r velops the boys’ chests, and makes them as hard as boxers.” Boys were taken on for trial training at the age of seven, she said, and were given a strict tost at the end of that time. 'They had to lie able to read songs at sight and distinguish musical notes. If they proved successful they were accepted by the choir, which was responsible for them for 10 years. They never performed before the ago of nine. A hoy in the choir would seldom go on more than one trip, and it was usual to take boys of about 12, since it was then that their voices were at their best. It was not advisable to take .them when older in case their voices should break. There was one boy on the present trip who would probably not sing for more than six mouths. The hoys are given from 12 to 14 hours’ sleep, and as they are obliged to stay up late at night they begin their day at 10 in the morning and also take two hours’ sleep in the afternoon. They have gymnastics for a-quarter of an hour after breakfast, after which there is an hour of lessons with their teacher. They have two singing practices, one before lunch and another before the evening performance. A short walk is usually taken after lunch. Madame Marsi said that the boys arc all Austrians, and mostly from Vienna. This lias been the custom since about 1700, though when the choir was founded_ in the fifteenth century boys were brought from the Netherlands. About 5000 applications for adihission were received annually. The boys now live in a castle on the outskirts of Vienna, granted by the Government. Formerly the choir tVas housed in a wing of the Imperial palasft