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Christmas with the Vienna Choir Boys? What could be more classic! Who does not know this 500-year-old organization that features the angelic tones of young male voices? Based in Austria, the Vienna Choir Boys tour internationally regularly, including visits to the USA and Canada almost every year. Actually four separate choirs here, they compile 21 of their very favorite holiday numbers on Merry Christmas: Carols from North America and Europe. It's a keeper.

Children's voices are such a natural when it comes to Christmas music; after all, kids personify what the holidays are all about! The innocence and joy radiate here, and these boys' voices are totally professional, to boot. No cutesy, off-key stuff; the songs reflect first-class musicality throughout. Nice.

Merry Christmas presents carols from North America and Europe; easily half are well familiar. The flavor is definitely classical. The accompaniment is appropriately light, permitting the young voices to shine. The Vienna Choir Boys sing fluently in several languages (English, German, French, Latin). Although the extensive liner notes do not provide translations, they do set forth helpful background information about each piece.

This is an easy album to love. The sounds are sweet and top notch. My favorite tracks include "Still, Still, Still," an elegantly simple number done a cappella, and the majestic "Adeste Fidelis." Everything works well here.

Looking for a traditional album to brighten your holidays? Let the Vienna Choir Boys say Merry Christmas to you and your family again and again.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)

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From the liner notes:

Recorded June 1999 in the Casino Zogernitz, Vienna
Recording studio: Classic Sound Austria
Producer: Jiri Pospichal
Sound Engineer: Gustav Soral
Artistic Director Gerald Wirth: Gerald Wirth started playing the piano at an early age and was accepted as a member of the Vienna Choir Boys in 1974. After his voice change, he studied piano, voice and oboe at the Bruckner Conservatory in Linz, Austria. During the same period, his first compositions were performed and he started to conduct choirs and instrumental ensembles. At the age of 21, Gerald Wurth was invited to become one of the conductors of the Vienna Choir Boys. On his return to Vienna in 1998, Gerald Wirth was offered the position of Deputy Artistic Director of the Vienna Choir Boys.

Vienna Choir Boys:All four choirs of the Vienna Choir Boys are represented on this CD; each group performs its favorite carols. The choirs learned these carols on their tours; the carols originate from Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the USA and, of course, Austria. Niine of the twenty-one carols on this disc have been newly arranged for boys' choir and orchestra by Gerald Wirth.

In 1948, half a millennium ago, Emperor Maximilian I founded the 'Court Choir Boys,' In 1924, after the breakdown of the Habsburg empire, the institution was rescued by the last imperial chaplain, Rector Josef Schnitt. Since the boys were no longer court singers, they were now called Vienna Choir Boys (or Vienna Boys' Choir).

From the beginning, musicians like Heinrich Isaac, Paul Hofhaimer, H.I.F. Biber, Gluck, Haydn, Mozart, Salieri, Schubert and Bruckner worked with the choir. Some were members of the ensemble themselves, such as composers Jacobus Gallus and Franz Schubert, and the conductors Hans Richter, Felix Mottl and Clemens Krauss.

The institution "Vienna Choir Boys" has its own school, most of the choir boys are boarders. Besides the academic lessons, which are taught in small groups of nor more than 15 children, the school offers extracurricular activities ranging from sports (volleyball, judo, football, skating, swimming) to attending (pop) concerts, musicals and films. There are four choirs with 22-25 boys each; they are based in the beautiful baroque Augartenpalais in Vienna. During their tours, the boys visit virtually all European countries, and they are frequent guests in Asia, Australia and the Americas. They visit the USA and Canada almost every year.

Ambassade Orchester Wien: The Ambassade Orchestra recruits most of its membership from the world famous Vienna Symphonic Orchestra. All members are firmly established in Vienna's music scene, playing solo or chamber music recitals. The orchestra is much in demand, their appeal is in their virtuosity as much as in their enthusiasm&. The Ambassade Orchestra was founded in 1998 by Michael Buchmann, Alexander Kaspar and Christian Schulz. Schulz is also the orchestra's main conductor.

Gerald Wirth (4, 6, 9, 12)
Lucio Golino (11, 14, 15)
Piano and organ: Gerald Wirth

The Vienna Choir Boys

Merry Christmas: Carols from North America and Europe

Artist link

Track List