The Vienna Boys Choir, a group of 24 boys between the ages of 10 and 14, prepared for a large performance Nov. 29. These young choral singers arrived at Berkeley’s Mondavi Center to face nearly 1800 people, who were expectant of the Austrian Youths. They performed splendidly but reminded us of their inexperience.

One by one, singing the soft tune of “Ad te Levavi Animam Meam”, the singers gathered up onto the stage. Despite the difference in language, the religious lyrics of salvation were easily understood.

Jimmy Chiang, the choirmaster, addressed the audience then began to conduct the next piece: “Sanctus”, another historically religious choral arrangement that spoke of the glory of God.

The Vienna Boys’ clear vocals cut through the still air. Their projection of sound was absolutely outstanding, especially when compared to other choirs. However, the flaws began to reveal themselves in quick-paced and segmented songs.

The singers would hesitate in the midst of pieces such as “Mercy—Forgiveness—Inner Peace,” a song composed by Gerald Wirth in 1965. It was an intense and quick-paced composition, which held passions of the ideals of God.

The conductor, who also accompanied his group, was unable to fully direct the choir. This ultimately led to the insecurity felt by the boys. Their voices wavered and would hit flat notes, which disrupted the chords of the songs.

They particularly had issues when it came to diction: pronunciation of the lyrics while singing. When the Vienna Boys Choir sang, their vibrato-less voices were easily heard by the audience. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of the lyrics. The children had difficulty separating their words, which led to a merging of sounds.

After coming back from the intermission somewhat disappointed, the listeners were greeted with a pleasant turn of events. The second part of the program used more traditional pieces, which contained more harmonies.

Coupled with the slow tempo and the familiar melodies, the Vienna Boys choir flooded the theater with enchanting tunes. “Ave Maria” by Franz Schubert was performed by a new soprano, who held majestically-high notes with ease. It, being one of the most famous choral pieces in history, brought smiles to the audience members.

As more time went on, they began to grow more confident. The choir sang in absolute harmony without any sense of discord. Their last song, a classical version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” received a standing ovation.

Luckily, the choirmaster performed an encore: “Auf Wierdersehen” from “The Sound of Music”. Not only was it a well-known song in both Austria and America, the song held a sense of nostalgia to those who watched “The Sound of Music” in their childhood.

They sang with precision and had a beautiful tone that resonated the theater. They also implemented chiaroscuro, a tone that blends the sharp and hollow elements of the voice.

The Vienna Boys Choir is a great choir that excels at classical pieces. It may take a while for the young Austrians to find their comfortable range, but it is worth the wait. If you were ever to get the chance to listen to a performance, it is imperative that you go.

by SYLVESTER JUNG