Look carefully at the title of this DVD before purchase and
ensure you fully understand what you are buying. It is not a
collection of the Vienna Boys Choir singing well-known Christmas
Songs. Rather it is the reproduction, in 16:9 video aspect,
of a 1995 film - or ‘movie’ if you want to use the
Americanism. It shows the life of members of the choir in their
home, Augarten castle. Yes, there is some singing of traditional
Christmas songs, in both rehearsal and concert. However, despite
the claim of 40 minutes duration, this DVD comes in at 33 minutes,
with the actual singing of those songs being considerably less.
The above merely describes, in outline, what is actually on
the DVD. It shows the boys in rehearsal (CHs. 8-9), dressed
informally and in concert, complete in their sailor-style uniforms
(CHs. 4,11). It gives insight into their daily life and the
discipline involved in preparing for concerts. The rest is of
interest in relating the experience of the boys in rehearsal,
at meal times (CH.4), in the dormitory (CH.3) and particularly
in the preparations they make in their castle home for Christmas.
The setting up and preparation of a tree (CH.6) and the dressing
and arrival of a benevolent figure with a sack of parcels are
part of what we all think of as Christmas. These aspects are
woven into the seasonal routine for the large number of boys
who constitute the Vienna Boys Choir. As the booklet note there
are four choirs with almost one hundred singers. Their repertoire
extends widely beyond the basics of Schubert, Mozart and Haydn.
The leaflet also notes that the reputation of the choir has
drawn many of the world’s leading conductors onto the
rostrum for their concerts.
As to the all too brief Christmas songs, the selection of Traditional
and German works is to be expected. For the British,
with their own Choral tradition and rigorous training in the
cathedral choral schools, and those at Oxford and Cambridge,
it is interesting to compare the sound made by each; different
but not necessarily better. This is not a collection over which
to nit-pick about enunciation. This is bound be different just
as some excellent British choirs would render German a little
more accented than a native speaker; the same is the case here.
It is just pleasant to glory in the sound and think about their
sacrifices of normal teenage life; sacrifices that make our
enjoyment so special. The same can be said whether in respect
of Vienna or Cambridge. Be thankful that the boys are prepared
to forego so much family life and subject themselves to the
strictest of musical disciplines. Long may these traditions
continue.
This insight into the life of the boys of the Vienna Choir would
have gained from more musical examples. Sparse timing overall.
Robert J Farr
Track listing
Johann Ritter von HERBECK (1831-1877)
Pueri Concinite [4.11]
George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Joy To The World (I) [0.59]
Joy To The World (II) [1.08]
Traditional
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen [2.33]
The Little Drummer-boy 3.04]
O Du Fröhliche [1.46]
O Heiland Reiss Die Himmel Auf [1.39]
Es Hat Sich Halt Eröffnet [1.50]
Ihr Kinderlein Kommet [1.41]
Franz GRUBER (1787-1863)
Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht [3.45]
Traditional
Vom Himmel Hoch [2.31]
Good King Wenceslas [1.12]
Deck The Halls [1.32]
Adeste Fideles [2.11]
Still, Still, Still [2.01]
CAPRICCIO C9004 
[33:00] 