In a flourishing show season filled with symphonies, ballet, opera, pop gigs and modern drama, a concert might be a good choice.

It is even better if the concert will be given by the magical and globally renowned Vienna Boys Choir.

For nearly five centuries, the choir -- made up of boys whose voices have yet to break -- has enchanted millions with its exceptionally beautiful singing. Continuing to make regular appearances at Sunday services in the imperial chapel in Vienna, the 100 boys aged between 10 and 14 are divided into four separate groups that travel the world in turn.

Now, the Haydn Group will tour Asia and give two concerts at Poly Theatre in Beijing on September 12 and 13.

Besides their signature works such as Gregorian Chant and music by Strauss, Mozart, Schubert and Hayden, the choir will present especially prepared European folk songs for its Beijing audiences.

After intermission, the concert will feature folk songs of France, Hungary, Italy and Scotland.

The history of the choir dates back to 1498 when Maximilian I engaged 12 boys to sing for the Imperial Court.

In 1918 the collapse of the Hapsburg Dynasty and the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire threatened to bring an end to the world famous institution.

Fortunately, businessman Joseph Schnitt, in 1924, decided to revive the group despite enormous economic difficulties.

Since its inception, the choir has been an important part of Austria's musical life. Many distinguished Viennese musicians began their careers as members of the ensemble. The most famous choir members include Franz Schubert (1797-1828), Wolfgang Mozart (1756-91) and Joseph Haydn (1732-1809).

Today's choir runs its own school. Almost 250 children study and rehearse in the Augartenpalais, a baroque palace in Vienna.

Since Gerald Wirth, a former choir boy in the 1970s became the group's artistic director in 2001, he began to add children's operas to the repertoire.

The Vienna Boys Choir regularly produces its own children's operas such as Benjamin Britten's "The Little Sweep."

"While we do all those things, our traditional music will continue to be at least 80 percent of our repertoire," Wirth said. "We don't want to lose our roots."
 
(China Daily September 3, 2003)