The world&rsquo\;s favouri te childrens&rsquo\; choir and one of today&rsquo\;s most celebrated ambass adors of music returns with a one-night-only concert at the Esplanade Conce rt Hall. A special segment of the programme features the V ienna Boys&rsquo\; Choir with The kids&rsquo\; philharmonic@sg Orchestra of Singapore. Maestro Manolo Cagnin conducts both the choir and the orchestra .
\n\nThe Vienna Boys have been singing at the royal court in Vienna since the 15th century. Formed in 1498 by Emperor Maximili an I\, the Wiener Sä\;ngerknaben&rsquo\;s (Vienna Boys&rsquo\; Choir) d istinctive sound is unmatched in purity and beauty. From as early as 1926\, the Choir performed outside the Austrian Imperial Chapel\, paving the way to today&rsquo\;s highly successful world tours.
\n\nThe boys range between 10 to 14 years\, and are selected to join the choir&rsquo\;s full time training through worldwide auditions. They have their own full-ti me school at the Augartenpalais\, a baroque palace and former impe rial hunting lodge in Vienna. Besides music \, the school excels in academi c subjects\, sports and humanities.
\n\nFamous singers and composer w ho sang or worked with the Vienna Boys in the distant past include: Wolfgan g Amadeus Mozart\, Anton Bruckner and Josef Haydn. Franz Schubert was himse lf a Vienna Boys chorister.
\n\nGerald Wirth is the Artistic Director of the Vienna Boys&rsquo\; Choir. His distinctive arrangements are a popul ar feature of the Boys&rsquo\; concerts. The conductor for the Vienna Boys& rsquo\; Choir Asian tour 2016 is Manolo Cagnin. Included in the programme a re Viennese waltzes and polkas\, motets\, art songs and folk songs from aro und the world.
\n\nIn recent years\, they have performed with the Vie nna Philharmonic Orchestra\, Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh S ymphony Orchestra. Recent guest conductors include Pierre Boulez\, Nikolaus Harnoncourt\, Zubin Mehta and Riccardo Muti.
\n \;\n\nMa nolo Cagnin: Conductor
\n\nBorn in Treviso\, Italy\, Maolo C agnin developed an interest in music early in life. As a child\, he studied violin and violin at the Conservatory of Venice\, then later pursued chora l music\, conducting and composition in Venice and Milan. He completed his studies in Leipzig under Kurt Masur and Fabio Luisi.
\n\nIn Leipzig\, Mr. Cagnin served as assistant to the Thomanerchor&rsquo\;s artistic direc tor\, Georg Christoph Biller. He was music director of the Gewandhaus Orche stra&rsquo\;s 2007 production of &ldquo\;La Tragé\;die de Carmen&rdqu o\;.
\n\nIn 2008\, Mr. Cagnin was named conductor of one of the Wiene r Sä\;ngerknaben&rsquo\;s (Vienna Boys Choir) four touring choirs. He p repares the boys for masses with the Vienna Hofmusikkapelle and for appeara nces with the Vienna State Opera\; for sound and video recordings\, and for concerts both in Vienna and abroad.
\n\nMr. Cagnin feels it is espec ially important to communicate with the audience\, &ldquo\;Music is a gift. As musicians\, we have the obligation to share that gift with our audience .&rdquo\; Mr. Cagnin finds working with the boys particularly rewarding\, & ldquo\;They possess character and spirit. This is reflected in the way they make music. The children learn from me\, and I learn from them.&rdquo\; Th e repertoire is chosen to match the boys'\; voices and personalities.
\n\nThe spirited choirmaster enjoys touring\, and has led his Choir on tours through most of Europe\, North and South America\, Australia\, Canada \, China\, Korea\, New Zealand\, Singapore\, Taiwan\, and Vietnam.
\n\n< p>Kids&rsquo\; philharmonic@sg Orchestra