Search - Vienna Boys Choir :: Christmas Angels

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 12/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THEIR VOICES SOAR ON WINGS OF SONG!



There is no doubt that the Vienna Boys' Choir is one of the finest boy choirs and this disc is indeed a heavenly program of somewhat traditonal carols, some definitely moreso than others.



I think the centerpiece of this recording is the Britten 'Ceremony of Carols'. The genius of Britten sparkles in every note, and intricate ryhthms,from the exciting "Wolcum Yole!" to the lovely "There Is no Rose". There are 12 sections of this work beginning an ending with the same Chant. The voices of the Vienna Boys Choir do a "bang-up"job with this; their diction is excellent, both in the Latin and the English, their tone quality pure and bell-like and their emotional investment high. The German carols such as 'Stille Nacht' -'Frau Nachtigall, wach auf' and 'O Tannenbaun' were also well rendered, but the two English carols 'Once In royal David's City' and 'Good Christian Men Rejoice' I found to be less interesting partly because the tempi was on the slow side, and somehow the English words were not as clearly understood. However, if you are familiar with the carols it need not be all that annoying.



A highpoint was Placido Domingo's 'Adeste Fideles';just wonderful!



Concerning the 'Coventry Carol':I would like to know why arrangers like to "mess around" with this lovely melody. I found it painful to listen to, and could hardly wait till it was over. This has nothing to do with the singing of it; in fact, the choir deserves much credit for implementing the odd harmony required to sing it.



On the other hand the selection "Die Konige" was very pleasing to the ear. All in all the performance is excellent. and it's always refreshing to hear carols that do not have a 'shopping mall' mentality!

"

John P. Cutler

vienna-shopper | 12/29/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It took Me awhile to find this CD in the local stores[Before I started using this web site].When I got it and listened to it,I was glad I did'nt give up, it was worth the effort. Still another great job by the Vienna Choir Boys"