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Worf101
12-21-2009, 06:45 AM
About 3 months ago the ole lady asked me to snag a couple of tix to see the "World Famous" Vienna Boys Chior. Now I grumbled but did the dirty deed under the express conditions THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO!!!! This is not because I don't like choral renditons or Vienese Boys, I didn't want to go because the Troy Music Hall was built over 150 years ago when people were a LOT smaller, shorter and could sit 2 plus hours in crampted conditions without needing Chiropractic hlep to get out of the seat!!!

Needless to say, everyone SHE asked to go to hear the World Famous Vienna Boys Chior bagged on her and to make a looooong story short , I got dragged into the seeing the Vienna Boys Chior! Now normally, as a musician, this woulda been a marvelous thing I can appreciate any art as long as its done well, with skill and enthusiasm, and in the begininng all was well. The Choir director seemed a bit "over the top", flourishing his tails before sitting down at the piano and the over exaggerated moves while conduction but hey, some people need a little show for their money.

The classical pieces performed were marvelous, beautifully performed with angelic voices. The problems began arising when they ventured out of the European Classics and began to sing folks songs and popular songs. "Kalina" was all right but rhythmically not quite there, however the wheels came off when they decided to do a version of "If I Were a Rich Man" from "Fiddler on the Roof". Not only was song weakly done (perhaps due to their non-familiary with english) but the timing was off, these could be forgiven but what could not be was the fact that THE SINGING WAS OUT OF TUNE.

As the evening wore on, this occured time and again, modern or popular songs done sore poorly as to make my ears bleed. Their versions of "Silver Bells" and "Jingle Bell Rock" were horrendous! Besides I hadn't gone there to hear that tripe, no "Ave Mariea"? No Adeste Fidelis? WTF??? I was stuck in the middle of the row so I couldn't make a dash for the door, something I clearly came to regret when I heard the first few chords of their big encore number. What do they chose to end their Holiday Concert with, nothing short of one of worst songs ever recorded... "We Are The World".

I wanted to stick knitting needles in my ears. Weak, flat, uninspired and just plain bad, this was torture of the highest magnitude. Most of the audience, in their 80's and 90's didn't notice nor seem to care, I however wanted to stick my head in an oven. The ole lady, who never says anything bad about anyone or anything was pissed. "Somethings wrong here, that CAN'T be the real V.B.C.".

This got me to thinkin' so I went home and did some research. The V.B.C. website doesn't tell you this but I will there isn't just ONE V.B.C's there are in fact several, and they perform all over the world in different places at the same time. While I don't mind there being multiple bands or brands, hell there were several "Drifters" and Temptations touring at the same time, I do mind varying levels of competence. I looked at youtube vids of the V.B.C. and it's obvious that we drew the single "A" affiliate of the franchise NOT the big boys.


The REAL V.B.C. were performing two sold out shows in Austria yesterday NOT Troy, New York. Kinda feel a little ripped off, but hey... you pays you money you take your chances. Just let this be a warning to everyone that if you have a chance to see the "World Famous" Vienna Boys Choir in your little part of the world, don't be surpised if the experience doesn't live up to expectations.

Da "Bah Humbug" Worfster

ForeverAutumn
12-21-2009, 08:02 AM
That just sounds like false advertising to me.

MindGoneHaywire
12-21-2009, 08:45 AM
Great bad review.



>I grumbled but did the dirty deed under the express conditions THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO!!!!

Yeah, like you didn't know you were going to get stuck. Sure!


>normally, as a musician, this woulda been a marvelous thing I can appreciate any art as long as its done well, with skill and enthusiasm,

Nah. The need to write a bad review must be addressed every now & then. haha


>THE SINGING WAS OUT OF TUNE.

Did they serve alcohol?


>What do they chose to end their Holiday Concert with, nothing short of one of worst songs ever recorded... "We Are The World".

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I'm sorry, man. I feel for ya

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA

Troy
12-21-2009, 08:56 AM
That was very funny Worf.

JohnMichael
12-21-2009, 10:29 AM
The REAL V.B.C. were performing two sold out shows in Austria yesterday NOT Troy, New York. Kinda feel a little ripped off, ...
Da "Bah Humbug" Worfster



and they all still had their testicles.

Worf101
12-21-2009, 10:40 AM
and they all still had their testicles.
You bastiche... coffe all over my puter AGAIN!!!! Ohh that was just... just wrong!!!

Worf

recoveryone
12-21-2009, 09:32 PM
OUCH!!! I was glad when the neighbor ask the wife and I to our local performing arts theater. I was told it was the Boys to Men concert, but I could not think they would be playing in such a small venue (approx 400 seats). I was sure they were mistaken about the location and we would be going to the local Indian casino were most acts play. The show was top notch and I am a fan all over again.

poppachubby
12-22-2009, 01:48 AM
Worf, sounds like those suckas need a blast from the bop gun. You shoulda shined the spotlight on em!

bobsticks
12-22-2009, 07:09 AM
I lament your tale of woe my Klingon compadre...

I too only recently found out that the real Vienna Boys Choir and their testicles had dopplegangers. I'd purchased what was a terrifically mispackaged hi-res "Original Compilation" only to discover it was merely Snakes and Arrows remastered through an Eventide Harmonizer and a Boss Chorus pedal circa 1982...

Feanor
12-22-2009, 09:09 AM
Sorry to hear about you rVBC experience. But I'm not sure I'd have been diappointed if dragged (unwillingly) to such a performance on account of lower expectations.

I wouldn't cross the street to hear any fundamentally classical ensemble singing a substantially popular program because (a) selections like the ones you mentioned don't appeal to me, and (b), as you discovered, they are unlikely to be done well.

Also, I'm disinclined spend my hard-earned cash or time on any boys' or children's choir -- even if they're the "A" team. Various English choirs manage to utilize boy sopranos well in combinations with mature voices, but all-child choirs have an inherently very limited classical repertoire to work with.