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Founded in 1498 as part of the Vienna Hofmusikkapelle by Emperor
Maximilian I for private masses and concerts for the court.
Countless famous composers and conductors like Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart have worked with the Choirboys.
After the breakdown of the Habsburg
Empire in 1918 the fate of the Vienna Boys' Choir was
undecided. The Austrian State took over Vienna
State Opera and its adult musicians but was not interested
in upholding the traditions of the boys' choir with its angelic
voices. A private sponsor stepped in and managed the choir.
In the 1920s sailor suit were all the rage and so the boys
were dressed accordingly - a dress code that has been in use
ever since.
To fight a shortage in funding the
choir started to organize public concerts with great success.
The choir enlarged their repertoire adding motets, secular
songs and childrens' operas to their performances.
Today, there are 4 boys' choirs, who constantly tour the world.
The choristers are aged 11 to 14 years, attend school together
and receive an excellent musical education. Their concerts
are usually sold out at an early stage.
On Sundays there is a special chance
to admire the boys' choire: accompanied by Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra and the Vienna State Opera Chorus they celebrate
mass at the Hofmusikkapelle at Vienna's
Hofburg.
Wiener Sängerknaben; Augartenpalais,
1020 Wien
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