VIENNA BOYS' CHOIR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23810, 17 May 1939, Page 17

VIENNA BOYS' CHOIR

FINAL DUNEDIN CONCERT A final and completely captivating programme was presented by the Vienna Mozart Boys' Choir, under the conductorship of Dr Georg Gruber, in His Majesty's Theatre last night. The voices of these boys have a peculiarly moving quality, and last night's audience was not slow to show its appreciation of the magnificent entertainment presented. The main item on the programme was the costume operetta, " Tales From the Vienna Woods," sung and acted to the conductor's arrangement of the well-known music by Johann Strauss. The story is based on the love affairs of a country innkeeper's daughter. The students of a nearby college, incensed at the girl's refusal of her faithful lover on the excuse that she is waiting for another and more wealthy swain, plan to introduce a millionaire-impostor to her. The girl falls in love with the rich man. and when she finds the deception she returns to her still faithful first love. The lad who took the part of the factotum of the college and posed as the millionaire proved a natural actor and an accomplished 'scenestealer." The programme was a full one, and it would be hard to differentiate between the respective merits of the members. The exquisitely quiet treatment of "The Last Rose of Summer" provided a contrast with the gay parody of an orchestra in " Serenade." while the rhythmic " Boleros Sevillanas " was followed by a sorrowful Gaelic lament and a nostalgic little song entitled " Lonely," composed by Thomas Koschat In " O Mother," a folk-song from Cologne, the choir produced quaint bell effects. Four encores were given and included the ever-popular " Blue Danube," the comic "Nightingale and the Frog," and, somewhat unexpectedly, " Home on the Range " and the Polynesian song of farewell. "Aloha Oe," these last two being conducted by one of the boys. Dr Gruber's sensitive accompaniments and conducting added much to the charm of this captivating presentation.