Ave Maria

Nicely compiled collection , highlighting the boys beautiful voices

Excellent rendition of classical religious music, from the world famous choir. Particularly inspiring was "Ave Maria" by Schubert. Breathtaking! Due to an ever-changing cast, each performance becomes a one-of-a-kind experience.

What can be better said about the Vienna boys' choir? They are fantastic, as always. I love listening to them in the evening. Seems to help me sleep better. :)

MY GENEROSITY OVERWHELMS ME!Since it's the Christmas season my fingers could not bear to give this poor excuse of a recording two stars. I'm not sure really who is more at fault 'Laserlight' or the Choir, but based on other recordings I have of this group(especially their very fine disc:Christmas Angels), I suspect that Laserlight simply did a bad job of the entire recording process. Lest you waste your money, here for what it's worth, is my take on this disc.First, a brief background of the Choir, in case you are not familiar with them. The Choir is a modern-day descendant of the Viennese Court, dating back to the late Middle Ages. There are currently 100 choristers between the ages of 10 and 14, which are divided into four touring groups performing about 300 concerts each year. Each group tours for about 9-11 weeks. Franz Schlosser is director and choir president, and Gerald Wirth, Artistic Director. I am assuming this based on information on my last recording. However, THERE IS NO INFORMATION ACCOMPANYING THIS DISC OTHER THAN THE ACTUAL NUMBERS BEING PERFORMED. Thus I do not know for sure even what orchestra or chorus or soloists are involved. I can guess, but I won't presume to do that! Recently the Vienna Boys' Choir has sought to update its image, recording pop music selections (what a shame as commercialism rears its ugly head!), and adopting an alternative uniform (like I care what they wear) to the sailor suits used since the 1920's, in addition allowing the boys to dance while they sing!The unaccompanied singing in the Bruckner 'Locus iste' and 'Ave Maria' was actually the best-sounding on the recording; the other solo 'spots' in other selections varied in quality according to the individual singer, and I wasn't sure sometimes whether I was listening to a boy soprano or a female adult soprano, the sound was so unclear.In many selections such as the Mozart 'Coronation': Kyrie & Gloria, the Orchestra took over and the singers became the accompanists; really inexcusable sound engineering! And the diction of most of the renditions, especially the four excerpts from the 'Messiah', were 'mushy', almost as if no consonants existed. Whose fault was that? I would like to have personally in the Mozart eliminated, and none too gently, the tympanist, who definitely had the mistaken idea that he was the soloist!If you check under the recording listing you will see that this is a great collection of choral music from the best of the best, but somehow that does not shine through this recording. There is a two CD packet now on the market that incorporates three albums 'The Best of Vienna Boys', 'Ave Maria' (this recording) and 'Edelweiss' all of which are sold seperately.On a more positive note, I have seen and heard this group off and on for the past 10 years or so, and never have they given a poor performance. But, having said this, I must admit to them not being my favorite young choir. Their demeanor is often stiff as is their singing, and they seem not to have the crisp clear diction I prefer and hear from other young choirs, especially the British. Their tone quality, while being clear and correct in pitch, seems somewhat sterile, lacking warmth and variety. Will I continue to attend their concerts (and they are always somewhere close to me)? Of course I will because they do entertain within their framework. Will I buy their recordings? Not if they are 'Laserlight'. Do what you will.

Something that's been around for 500 years couldn't be that bad - and the Vienna Boys Choir is no exception. These boys can sing!Their performance of selections from Mozart's Requiem, the Ave Maria, and Handel's Messiah are all spectacular. Boys' voices add a certain extra degree of authenticity not provided by women's voices. It makes it sound a little more like it did when Mozart or Handel wrote it (or at least I think it does - it's not like I was there).I'm not a huge choral fan but I did enjoy this CD. If you enjoy choral music, definitely acquire this disc. If you tolerate choral music or classical music, give this one a try. If you like neither choral music nor classical music, what are you doing in the classical music section?

I'm a vienna boys choir fan since 15 years, I admire them in my city too, Torreon, México, I have listened hundreds times and it has very beatiful songs and the choir is great, principaly requiems and OF COURSE, the ex-vienna boy chor song's by Shubert, AVE MARIA, it's great, you feel an enormous peace, you simply can not stop listening, again and again and again, I think, you have to get this cd. The solist boy has a beatiful voice. It is an excellent work. Maybe, depends on your city or country, you have to wait several weeks but you have to get this one!

Disappointed. It clearly states that it is the Vienna Boys Choir; however, when it is choral, adult male voices dominate and, when there are no adult male voices, it tends to be a solo boy's voice; ie the description of it being The Vienna Boys' Choir is false.Our mother bought a series of six EP records (Extended Play: the small, long playing records the size of a 'single' record, with the revolutions of an LP; the long playing record). They were all choral work by the Vienna Boys' Choir, without any adult voices; some had a soloist boy, with the choir softly in the back ground. Some were 'a capello'. They were a delight to listen to.If anyone knows were I can buy pure Vienna Boys Choir CDs, please let me know.

good

Fondé en 1924, sous leur nom actuel, mais dont la naissance officiel sous une autre appellation descend de la Chapelle impérial, au début fixé à 1498 (!), les petits chanteurs de Vienne sont parmis ce que les formations chorales offrent à l'autriche et aux autres pays ce qu'il y a de plus emblématique en terme de diffusion de musiques sacrées. Une consonance des notes si émouvante, et une prestance vocale à la fois intense, élevé et subtilement fragile. Ces voix dont la supériorité de pureté exprimées semblent être immense et infaillible, sont comme descendu d'un infini paradis. Ici, on est dans le classique le plus authentique et liturgique. Ils rendent entre autre hommage à Mozart (Sont célèbre et apaisant : "Ave verum corpus" est ici présent), Von Hereck et Handel (Un specialiste en la matière, lui même enfant de choeur naguère). Ils sont aussi superbement entourés d'orchestres de musiciens à la dextérité décuplée sous la baguette de main de maître, ou l'implosion des instruments à cordes et à vents se confondent à une érosion glorifiant la braise et le feu de mélodies semblant avoir été "composé par Dieu". Et les cordes vocales subliminales, s'accompagnent aussi parfois d'adultes, comme des accompagnateurs à la fois guides et protecteurs. Et pour conclure, un merveilleux petit soliste pour un "Pueri concinite" dans la lignée des plus beaux morceaux à la gloire des sopranos. Intense et on ne peut plus beau !

Thank!!!