The Wiener Männergesang-Verein ("Vienna Men's Choral Society" or "Vienna Male Voice Choir") is a men's choir in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

, Austria, founded in 1843. The choir has regularly appeared with the

Vienna Philharmonic The Vienna Philharmonic (VPO; german: Wiener Philharmoniker, links=no) is an orchestra that was founded in 1842 and is considered to be one of the finest in the world. The Vienna Philharmonic is based at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. It ...

, and has performed worldwide. Notable composers, particularly

Johann Strauss II Johann Baptist Strauss II (25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (german: links=no, Sohn), was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed ov ...

, have composed music for the choir.

History

The choir was founded by

August Schmidt August Schmidt may refer to: * August Schmidt (Wehrmacht) (1892–1972), German general * August Schmidt (Luftwaffe) August Schmidt (1 February 1883 – 23 November 1955) was a highly decorated General der Flakartillerie in the Luftwaffe during ...

, on 6 October 1843 in the inn "Zum goldenen Löwen" ("The Golden Lion"). He was a journalist and founder of the ''Allgemeine Wiener Musik-Zeitung''. The choir's first concert took place on 17 December of that year."Wiener Männergesang-Verein"
''Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon Online''. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
Wiener Männergesang-Verein. Retrieved 4 February 2022. The first concert tour was to

Würzburg Würzburg (; Main-Franconian: ) is a city in the region of Franconia in the north of the German state of Bavaria. Würzburg is the administrative seat of the ''Regierungsbezirk'' Lower Franconia. It spans the banks of the Main River. Würzburg is ...

in 1845, further tours in Europe followed. In 1849 the first annual concert with the

took place. From 1872, concerts were held in the ''Großer Musikvereinssaal'' (Great Hall) of the Musikverein, opened in 1870. "

The Blue Danube "The Blue Danube" is the common English title of "An der schönen blauen Donau", Op. 314 (German for "By the Beautiful Blue Danube"), a waltz by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, composed in 1866. Originally performed on 15 Februa ...

", originally for men's choir and orchestra, was written by

for the choir and was first performed on 15 February 1867. Strauss wrote further pieces for the choir, including ''

Wein, Weib und Gesang ''Wein, Weib und Gesang'' (''Wine, Woman, and Song''), Op. 333, is a Viennese waltz by Johann Strauss II. It is a choral waltz in its original form, although it is seldom heard in this version today. It was commissioned for the Vienna Men's Ch ...

'' and ''

Neu Wien Neu Wien (''New Vienna''), opus 342, is a waltz written by Johann Strauss II in 1870 and dedicated to Nicolaus Dumba (1830-1900), who was a fervent patron of Arts and was the Chairman of the Wiener Männergesang-Verein (Vienna's Men Choral Asso ...

''. The choir placed stone tablets on Schubert's birthplace and on the house where he died, in 1858 and 1869 respectively. In 1862 the choir set up a fund to erect a statue of

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wor ...

in Vienna; the Schubert Monument, created by the sculptor Carl Kundmann, was unveiled in the Stadtpark on 15 May 1872. In 1893, to celebrate 50 years since its founding, the choir performed ''

Helgoland Heligoland (; german: Helgoland, ; Heligolandic Frisian: , , Mooring Frisian: , da, Helgoland) is a small archipelago in the North Sea. A part of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein since 1890, the islands were historically possessions ...

'', a cantata written by

Anton Bruckner Josef Anton Bruckner (; 4 September 182411 October 1896) was an Austrian composer, organist, and music theorist best known for his symphonies, masses, Te Deum and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-Germ ...

for the occasion.

Twentieth century

The choir travelled to Egypt in 1905, the first of several trips outside Europe; in 1991 it travelled to the far east for the first time, to Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In 1958 the choir performed at

Expo 58 Expo 58, also known as the 1958 Brussels World's Fair (french: Exposition Universelle et Internationale de Bruxelles de 1958, nl, Brusselse Wereldtentoonstelling van 1958), was a world's fair held on the Heysel/Heizel Plateau in Brussels, Bel ...

in Brussels with the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by

Herbert von Karajan Herbert von Karajan (; born Heribert Ritter von Karajan; 5 April 1908 – 16 July 1989) was an Austrian conductor. He was principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic for 34 years. During the Nazi era, he debuted at the Salzburg Festival, wit ...

. A notable event between the two world wars was the 10th German Singers' Festival, organised in 1928 in Vienna by the choir. There were about 9000 choral societies and 140,000 singers. In 1914 the choir gave its 1000th public concert; in 1929 the 1500th concert took place, at the

Vienna State Opera The Vienna State Opera (, ) is an opera house and opera company based in Vienna, Austria. The 1,709-seat Renaissance Revival venue was the first major building on the Vienna Ring Road. It was built from 1861 to 1869 following plans by August S ...

; in 1954 it gave its 2000th public concert. In 1975 the choir appeared with the Vienna Philharmonic at the

Vienna New Year's Concert The Vienna New Year's Concert () is an annual concert of classical music performed by the Vienna Philharmonic on the morning of New Year's Day in Vienna, Austria. The concert occurs at the Musikverein at 11:15. The orchestra performs the same c ...

Repertoire

The repertoire extends from the Baroque period to the present day. The focus is on music for men's choir of the Romantic period, the Viennese Biedermeier and the world of opera. There may be piano or orchestral accompaniment, and soloists may take part.

Museum

The choir has a museum in the Musikverein building. The collection of music manuscripts includes the original manuscripts of compositions by Johann Strauss II,

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...

, Anton Bruckner and others which were dedicated to the choir, in particular the manuscript of Strauss's "The Blue Danube". There are letters and memorabilia relating to various events. There are paintings by

Julius Schmid Julius Schmidt or Schmid may refer to: * Julius Schmidt (aviator) (died 1944), German World War I flying ace * Julius Schmid (manufacturer) (1865–1955), creator of the Sheik and Ramses condoms * Julius Schmid (painter) (1854–1935), Austrian pai ...

and

Christian Attersee Christian Ludwig Attersee (born Christian Ludwig on 28 August 1940 in Bratislava) is an Austrian artist. Biography After he had spent his youth in Upper Austria (also at the Attersee, the origin of his artist's name), Attersee began his studies ...

, and a banner designed by

Theophil Hansen Baron Theophil Edvard von Hansen (; original Danish name: Theophilus Hansen ; 13 July 1813 – 17 February 1891) was a Danish architect who later became an Austrian citizen. He became particularly well known for his buildings and structures in ...

, a gift from Emperor

Franz Joseph I Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (german: Franz Joseph Karl, hu, Ferenc József Károly, 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 2 December 1848 until his ...

in 1861. Items from the collection are sometimes loaned to exhibitions for special occasions. Tours of the museum can be made on request.

Musical directors

The following are among the musical directors of the choir:"Die Historie unserer Chormeister"
Wiener Männergesang-Verein. Retrieved 4 February 2022. *

Anton M. Storch Anton M. Storch, Anton M. Storch, for/also: Anton Michael Storch or Anton Maria Storch or Anton Monachus Storch or Anton Max Storch or Anton Martin Storch,

(1843–1851) * (1843–1854) * (1854–1856) *

Hans Schläger Hans Schläger (Johann Schläger; 5 December 1820 – 17 May 1885) was an Austrian conductor and composer, important in the musical life of Salzburg in the 1860s. He was particularly involved in choral music. Life Schläger was born in Feldkirche ...

(1854–1861) *

Johann von Herbeck Johann Ritter von Herbeck (25 December 1831 – 28 October 1877) was an Austrian musician, conductor and composer, born in Vienna, best known for leading the premiere of Franz Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony. He was practically a self-educ ...

(1856–1866) *

Franz Mair Franz Mair (15 March 1821 – 30 November 1893) was an Austrian composer and choral conductor, and founder of the ''Wiener Schubertbund'', a choir that still exists today. Life Mair was born in Weikendorf in northeast Austria in 1821, son of a te ...

(1861–1862) * (1869–1910) * Richard Heuberger (1902–1909) * Viktor Keldorfer (1910–1921) * (1913–1934) *

Ferdinand Grossmann Ferdinand Grossmann (4 July 1887 – 5 December 1970) was an Austrian choral conductor, vocal teacher and composer. He studied music in Linz. Some years later in Vienna he attended a class of conducting given by Felix Weingartner. In 1923 he ...

(1927–1953) * Karl Etti (1948–1973) *

Norbert Balatsch Norbert Balatsch (; 10 March 1928 – 6 May 2020) was an Austrian conductor, especially known as a choral conductor, who began as a baritone choir singer. He was the long-term choir director of both the Vienna State Opera and the Bayreuth ...

(1953–1975) * (1973–1976) * (1976–1987) * (1990–2003) * (from 2005)

References

{{reflist

External links

Wiener Männergesang-Verein
Official website Boys' and men's choirs Austrian choirs Musical groups established in 1843 1843 establishments in the Austrian Empire