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| Vienna Boys Choir Sold Out |
Boys choirs are not all alike, in fact, possibly not at all alike, according to a CU music professor. In a pre-concert PowerPoint presentation he showed us clips of an English cathedral boys choir, a South African choir, the All-American Boys Choir and the Harlem Boys Choir. Not only was the sound and the material of each group distinctive, but even the way the boys stood, moved, walked and sang.
The 10-14 year old Vienna boys seem stiff and disciplined, little movement (even their few Japanese members). Their sound is unique as well. The singers most similar that I've heard was a Tongan choir--an acapella sound much like a pipe organ or calliope. The Vienna boys were accompanied on the piano by their director, and occasionally by members of the choir playing drums or accordion.
One of their efforts to update their program is World Music, songs from Asia, Africa, South America, sung in the native languages--even La Cucaracha from Mexico. It was Spanish with a decided German accent. They've released a film called The Silk Road, a sort of Crosby-Hope musical road show featuring songs from the countries along the famous route.
The director (a former Vienna choir boy) is trying to expand the VBC repertoire by including rock & roll. The boys struggled manfully to look casual and relaxed in WWII movie postures, their arms around each others' shoulders, while simultaneously trying to snap their fingers in unison and belt out the Beatles' "Help!" in their distinctive choir boy sound.
Unsurprisingly, the boys seemed the most relaxed and natural singing Austrian folk songs.
The boys are recruited to a boarding school at five years old and when they are 10 they audition for a spot in the 100 boy choir, which tours in groups of 24. They aren't paid, but they receive their room, board and education for free. They reportedly are vigorous in sports teams and theatricals, part of the branding that "they [the Vienna choir boys] are all boy--but they sing like angels."