SINGER BOYS OF VIENNA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20509, 29 August 1936, Page 14

SINGER BOYS OF VIENNA

HOME AFTER WORLD TOUR CENTURIES OF TRADITION The Viennese Singer Boys are back in Austria again after their longest concert tour, lasting nine months, during which they sang in South America, Australia, New Zealand (including Timaru), the Fiji Islands, Honolulu, Hawaii, and the United States of America. This memorable tour made many new friends for the boys, among whom were several professional singers and choir-masters in Australia and America who intend to visit Austria in order

to stay in the choir’s own house and to study music. « Deep-rooted Traditions It is nearly 450 years since Maximilian I of Hapsburg founded this boys’ choir in order that it might take part in the services that were held in the Court’s Castle Chapel. Since that time successions of Viennese boys with specially good voices have been j chosen for this purpose, among whom may be mentioned Franz Schubert who, as a “Singer Boy,” acquired his first musical education. Mozart and Hadyn were also members of the choir, and in more recent years famous conductors such as Hans Richter, Felix Mottl, Clemens Kraus, as well as many wellknown opera singers and members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1918, when the Austrian Monarchy came to an end, it seemed as if the choir, whose services had been used by the court, might come to an end as well. Its tradition and history, however, were so strong that it continued to exist until, in recent years a most prosperous revival took place due to the enthusiasm and indefatigable labours of its leader, Dean Rector Josef Schmitt, and its conductor, Dr Gruber. ’ To-day the activities of the Singer Boys extend far beyond those of its original design. Besides sacred music their programmes now include folk songs of many countries, operatic choruses, waltzes by Johann Strauss, and complete light operas, in which the boys perform all the parts them1 selves. ’ While enjoying their work to the full, the boys delight their audiences wherever they go, their artistic ability ! being of such a high quality that they ’ have been invited to give their con- ’ certs and performances in early every country in the world. Training Activities ; The choir is now divided into three . groups of 20 singers each. It also is ) provided with a reserve group. While ; two of the groups are on tour the third remains in Vienna to sing in the castle

chapel and to rehearse for new programmes. While all these delightful activities are going on school studies must not be neglected, and the boys, whose ages range from 10 to 12, have to work very hard in order to keep up the standard of other boys of the same age who attend school regularly. They have, in fact, to pack a whole year’s work into four to six months. The boys’ interests are, however, well looked after in order that nothing shall be overdone, and since they earn plenty of money by their singing they can afford to live in a beautiful modem castle, with large playgrounds, a skating rink, and swimming pool. In the summer the boys are taken up to 1 the mountains in the Tyrol where another home is waiting for them. Here they study music and also act as hosts to the 250 foreign guests for whom accommodation is provided. Castle Wilhelminenberg, in Vienna, . remains a home for the boys long after they cease to be members of the choir , —which happens when their voices break—and shelters them, if necessary, until they are able to support themselves. Every year thousands of boys apply for membership to the choir, of whom about 400 are chosen to be tested, between 80 and 100 being finally ad- ► mitted. A film of the boys, “Singing Youth,” .has been made at Castle Wil- : helminenberg, the grown-up parts being taken by professional actors and , actresses from Viennese theatres.

Australia’s most popular comicopera star, Gladys Moncrieff, will be welcomed back by Melbourne playgoers on Saturday, September 5, on which date she will make her re-appearance under the J. C. Williamson Ltd management, at His Majest’s Theatre. It is appropriate that Gladys Moncrieff should make her opening appearance in “The Maid of the Mountains,” for it was in this play, under the J. C. Williamson Ltd. management, she rose to star rank on the memorable firstnight performance at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne. Despite this fact, however, Miss Moncrieff confesses that she has no “favourite part.” “I try to make every part my favourite while I am playing it,” she said, “for I feel that if one does not enjoy one’s work, the audience will not enjoy it.” According to present arrangements, other productions will be “The Merry Widow,” and either “Katinka” or “The Chocolate Soldier.” In each of these, Miss Moncrieff has won widespread and lasting popularity.