Active from 1956 | Genre Holiday | |
Similar Alfred Sramek, Vjekoslav Šutej, Dionne Warwick, Herwig Reiter, Wilten Boys' Choir | ||
The Mozart Boys' Choir (also known as "The Mozart Boys' Choir of Vienna" or "The Mozart Vienna Boys' Choir"), German: Mozart Knabenchor Wien) is an Austrian choir of boys founded in 1956 to commemorate the 200 birth anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Originally it was named Mozart Sängerknaben and now is one of the most famous choirs in Europe and has gained recognition internationally.
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History
In 1956 to mark the 200 anniversary of Mozart's birthday, Prof. Erich Schwartzbauer founded "The Mozart Boys' Choir", which was directed primarily to perform works by Mozart and Viennese traditional music. Unlike the Vienna Boys' Choir, the boys from the Mozart's choir do not live in a boarding school, but they are allowed to go home after musical instruction and attend a school of their choice in his own neighbourhood. Although the members of the choir come together only once a week for rehearsals and performances, the choir has achieved high standards of quality. In 1995 the community ceased activities due to the death of its founder, so that the choir disappeared. Then, given some legal issues not solved properly the original name of "Mozart Sängerknaben" could not be in use anymore, so the musical director of the institution Peter Lang took over the responsibility and in collaboration with parents reorganized the choristers under the new name of "Amadeus Boys' Choir of Vienna". In 2006, coinciding with the 250 anniversary of the birth of Mozart, the choir celebrated obtaining its name back, and it is now known again as the Mozart Boys' Choir of Vienna, and it can be clearly distinguished by its 18th knight costume uniform.
Repertoire
Mozart's compositions have a special place in choir's selection but it also comprises other composers from the classical period such as Joseph Haydn and Franz Peter Schubert. Audiences are delighted with the extraordinary performances of popular Austrian and German songs and Johann Strauss waltzes and polkas as well. The boys are also trained to perform works by contemporary composers to make them available to its fans.
Concerts and tours
Choir performances are given in a wide range of venues not only in Vienna but around the world. Choirboys have trodden stages as important as the Vienna State Opera, the Vienna Volksoper, the Musikverein's golden hall, among other greatest theaters around the world. They sing in private events or in charming soirées at the Vienna Palais sharing with guests their fine art.
Featured participations
The Mozart Boys' Choir has had the opportunity to sing together with the best orchestras of Vienna, like the Vienna Philharmonic, the Vienna Symphonic and the Radio Symphony Orchestra, all of them under the baton of famous conductors. Mozart choristers have also taken part in Christmas Concerts, Austrian films and TV commercials.