Ten years after its last China tour, the acclaimed Tölz Boys' Choir (Tölzer Knabenchor) is set to return, launching its latest China tour this August with a stop at the Guangming Culture and Art Center.
Founded in 1956 by the then 19-year-old Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden based on a scout group, the choir was named after the Upper Bavarian district town of Bad Tölz.
The choir boasts a remarkably diverse repertoire, spanning medieval vocal music, madrigals, motets, Baroque and Classical church music, and modern folk songs. It is particularly well known for its soloists' interpretation of the “Three Boys” in Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute," with over 2,000 performances since the 1970s.
As one of the world's most renowned children's choirs, the Tölz Boys' Choir tours extensively around the globe, giving close to 150 performances annually. It has performed in the world's finest concert halls such as the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Musikverein in Vienna, and at prominent music festivals such as the Bayreuth Festival and the Salzburg Festival.
Over the past decades, the choir's recordings have earned numerous accolades, including the German Record Prize, the French Record Prize, the Echo Klassik, the Diapason d'Or, and a Grammy nomination.
In 2024, the choir, along with three other boys' choirs, was added to UNESCO's Bavarian state list of intangible cultural heritage.
For its Guangming concert, audiences can look forward to a diverse program covering German nursery rhymes, European folk songs, excerpts from the operas “The Magic Flute” and “Hansel and Gretel,” as well as choir arrangements of classical works — promising a soothing evening for all ages.
Time: 8 p.m., August 9 (Saturday)
Duration: 90 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission
Tickets: 80/180/280/380/480 yuan
Venue: Guangming Culture and Art Center, Guangming District (光明区光明文化艺术中心)
Metro: Line 6 to Fenghuang Town Station (凤凰城站), Exit B, then walk around 800 meters
Note: Children aged 6 and above or are taller than 1.2 meters are allowed to enter with their tickets