Austria’s national treasure, the Vienna Boys' Choir, embarks on a Taiwan tour

By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

The world-renowned Austrian national treasure—the Vienna Boys' Choir—with a history of over 500 years, will perform in Taichung City’s Zhongxing Hall on October 21, in Hsinchu City’s Performing Arts Center on the 22nd, in Kaohsiung City’s Zhidé Hall on the 24th, and in Taipei’s National Concert Hall on the 25th and 26th. The choir’s repertoire is highly diverse, covering everything from medieval sacred songs to contemporary music. Motets and choral adaptations of Strauss waltzes and polkas will also be included in the tour program. Notably, this time the Vienna Boys' Choir will perform the Taiwanese folk song “Longing for the Spring Breeze” for Taiwanese audiences for the first time.

The Vienna Boys' Choir is divided into four touring groups named after composers, performing around the world. These include the Haydn Group, Mozart Group, Schubert Group, and Bruckner Group. Franz Schubert, known as the King of Song, joined the choir at age 11 and sang as a solo tenor, while the Haydn brothers, Mozart, and Bruckner were closely associated with the choir. This Asian tour will feature the Haydn Group. The Vienna Boys' Choir is an all-boy ensemble, with members aged between 10 and 14. They attend specialized schools from kindergarten through primary level, receiving comprehensive music and general education regardless of gender. At age 10, the most outstanding boys are selected to join the choir and are assigned to participate in world tours. Each group tours for about 9 to 11 weeks per year, and the four groups collectively hold around 300 concerts annually.

The Vienna Boys' Choir was founded in 1498 by Emperor Maximilian I of Austria and boasts a prestigious history of 513 years, making it one of the most famous choirs in the world. Before 1918, it could only be heard at court, royal church masses, and state banquets, but now it is a globally sought-after group of little singing angels. The royal uniforms originally worn by choir members were replaced in the 1930s with navy blue and white sailor suits, which have become the choir’s iconic fashion style. In the 1960s, the Austrian government even awarded the choir the Austrian national emblem as its official emblem, symbolizing the highest honor.

Website: www.arsformosa.com.tw