Officially established in 1498, the Vienna Boys Choir is one of the world’s oldest boys’ vocal ensembles. Over its long history, the choir has served as a symbol of Austria and as musical ambassadors for that nation.
With 90 boys, the ensemble consists of four touring choirs, which give around 300 concerts and performances worldwide to almost half a million people annually.
The Vienna Boys Choir is a private, non-profit organization that funds itself chiefly through income generated from concerts and touring, along with donations and sponsorships. The organization maintains primary and grammar schools, with a curriculum focused on choral music and singing. Approximately 330 boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 19 attend the schools on campus.
In addition to the four boys’ choirs, there is a female counterpart, the Vienna Girls Choir (Wiener Chormädchen) for girls ages 10 to 14, as well as the Chorus Primus, a mixed children’s chorus.
Ahead of the Vienna Boys Choir’s annual concert at Chicago Symphony Center, this season on Nov. 28, here are some more details about the ensemble:
Famous alumni: Many influential musicians have emerged from its ranks. The choir’s first-class training has produced highly qualified vocalists, violinists, pianists and conductors, including Hans Richter, who was essential in establishing the reputation of philharmonic concerts in Vienna, and noted Wagnerian/Strauss maestros Josef Sucher, Felix Mottl, Clemens Krauss and Lovro von Matacic, all of whom helped to write the musical history of the 19th and 20th centuries. Another alumnus was operetta composer Carl Zeller, along with classical composers Joseph and Michael Haydn, Franz Schubert and HK Gruber.
More recently, Austrian pianist Lukas Sternath, who makes his North American debut with a recital Dec. 6 at Orchestra Hall, was a Vienna Boys Choir member for four years during his youth.
Master teachers: Several legendary composers and teachers have provided guidance over the centuries, such as Antonio Salieri, Wolfgang Mozart, Joseph and Michael Haydn, and Anton Bruckner. As a court organist, Bruckner rehearsed his own masses with the Vienna Boys Choir. If a performance went particularly well, he would reward the choristers with cake.
On the podium: The great conductors of the 20th and 21st centuries have led the choir, including Claudio Abbado, Leonard Bernstein, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Herbert von Karajan, Carlos Kleiber, Lorin Maazel, Riccardo Muti, Sir George Solti and Simone Young.
A centuries-old tradition: Every Sunday the Vienna Boys’ Choir has sung mass in Vienna’s Hofburg chapel, continuing an unbroken custom dating to 1498.
Sailor suits: After World War I and the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918-1920, the choir’s previous uniform of military cadet uniforms fell out of favor. In 1924, the choir started wearing its now-trademark sailor suits. That uniform was chosen because it was then considered respectable everyday wear for middle-class boys. Nowadays, members wear dark blue sailor suits for traveling, press events and sacred masses, and switch to all-white sailor suits for evening concert-hall performances.
