History of the Vienna Boys Choir
The Vienna Boys Choir (Wiener Sängerknaben) is an Austrian chorus of boys that is famous for its long-standing reputation of performing some of the finest choral music in the world. The choir is more than 500 years old.
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Beginning
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The Vienna Boys Choir was founded in 1498 by Emperor Maximilian I, who requested that six boys be among his court musicians.
Function
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The Vienna Boys Choir originally performed for the court, at mass, at private functions and at state affairs.
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Famous Ties
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Many famous composers worked with the Vienna Boys Choir, such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. Others, notably Franz Schubert and Michael Haydn, were choristers themselves.
Survival
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After the fall of the Habsburg empire, the Austrian government took over the court opera, but not the choir. The Vienna Boys Choir was saved by Josef Schnitt, who became dean of the imperial chapel in 1921.
Today
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Today, the Vienna Boys Choir is comprised of 95 boys between the ages of 10 and 14, who make up four different choirs. The boys tour the world, going all across Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.
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