Kimmel Center Presents Celebrates a Holiday Tradition with the Vienna Choir Boys
November 20, 2005
The talented young voices of the historically rich Vienna Choir Boys, conducted by Martin Schebesta, continue the holiday season festivities at the Kimmel Center on Saturday, December 10, 2005 at 3pm in Verizon Hall. The ensemble brings their time-honored holiday program including traditional selections such as Gabriel Fauré’s Messe basse, Charles Gounod’s Noël, Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols and the American classics such as Let it Snow!, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and Jingle Bell Rock, to the Kimmel Center and Philadelphia audiences of all ages for the fourth consecutive year.
The Vienna Choir Boys are the eleventh performance of the 2005/06 Sovereign Bank World Pop Mix. Upcoming performances in the series include: A Very Geator Christmas on Thursday, December 22, at 8pm; The Black Watch on Sunday, January 15, at 3pm; Paco Pena Flamenco Ensemble on Sunday, January 29, at 3pm; and Sylvia McNair on Tuesday, February 4, 2005 at 8:30pm.
Tickets for Vienna Choir Boys are priced at $37, $51, $61, $71 and $81. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings (additional fees may apply). For group sales call 215-893-5883.
One of the oldest boys’ choirs in existence, the world renowned Vienna Choir Boys have given concerts under an umbrella of the world’s great conductors including Leonard Bernstein, Lorin Maazel, Claudio Abbado, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Riccardo Muti, Herbert von Karajan, Carlos Kleiber and Sir George Solti. The 100-member ensemble of young men ranging from 10-14 years old, has toured the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia over 80 times and performances an average of 300 performances annually.
Established in 1498 by Emperor Maximilian I to incorporate six boys among his court musicians, the choir has sustained musical excellence and continues to expand into the 21st century. In addition to the long-standing tradition of singing services every Sunday in the Imperial Chapel in Vienna and performing with the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Opera Chorus on a regular basis, the ensemble currently incorporates various genres of music into their repertoire. In 2002, they recorded their first ever pop album which was nominated for Amadeus and the Austrian music award and are planning to release a DVD of their performances.
Tickets for Vienna Choir Boys are priced at $37, $51, $61, $71 and $81. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings (additional fees may apply). For group sales call 215-893-5883.
A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased 2.5 hours prior to evening performances and 11:30am for matinees. Sponsors of the 2005/2006 Kimmel Center Presents season include Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Sovereign Bank, The American Express Company, and Verizon Foundation. Special Student Matinees at the Kimmel Center are generously supported by Merck & Co., Inc. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Jazz and World Pop programming. In-kind support is generously provided by Deloitte and Southern Wine and Spirit. NBC-10 is a Media Partner for Kimmel Center Presents.
KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS
Sovereign Bank World Pop Mix
Saturday, December 10, 2005 | 3pm
Verizon Hall
Vienna Choir Boys
O Praise the Lord Henry Purcell
Cantate Domino Hans Leo Hassler
23rd Psalm, Op. 132, D.706 Franz Schubert
Hebe deine Augen auf
(Engelsterzett) from “Elijah,” Op. 70 Felix Mendelssohn
Messe basse Gabriel Fauré
Dir, Seele des Weltalls, K.429 (468a) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mentra Gwen
(“Venture Gwen”), Hob. XXXIb: 6 Joseph Haydn
Budeslied, Op. 122 Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sleep, my Pretty One Greg Gilpin
The Dance, Op.27, No. 1 Sir Edward Elgar
Intermission
Gaudete! From Piae Cantiones (1582) Anonymous (arr. Michael Neaum)
Four movements from
A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28
Wolcum Yole
There Is No Rose
Balulalow
Deo graties Benjamin Britten
A Maiden Most Gentle arr. Andrew Carter
O Little Town of Bethlehem arr. Adolf Strube
Deck the Hall arr. Herbert Peter
Carol of the Drum
(“The Little Drummer Boy) Katherine K. Davis (arr. Uew Theimeter)
Adeste Fideles arr. Gerald Wirth
Noël Charles Gounod
Do You Hear What I Hear? Noel Regney & Gloria Shayne
I’ll Be Home for Christmas Kim Gannon, Walter Kent & Sam Ram
Let It Snow! Jule Styne (arr. Hawley Ades)
Jingle Bell Rock Joseph Carleton Beal & James Ross Boothe
(arr. Roger Emerson)
FREE IN THE PLAZA
Commonwealth Plaza
1:30pm
Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble
This community-based ensemble will ring traditional holiday songs on 7 octaves of handbells and 5 octaves of Melody Chimes.
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