"Musical traditions abound during the holidays. In Vienna, Austria, as New Year's approaches, waltzes, marches, and polkas of the Strauss family begin to fill the air. One might think the Vienna Philharmonic has a lock on this music...But when it comes to regular performances of the 
Strauss family's effervescent, carefree music, the Vienna Boys Choir has the Philharmonic beat by a couple decades.

The choir has been singing Strauss since the early 1920s - yes, singing this upbeat, rhythmical, and often very fast music. Not an easy task. But the choristers, ranging in age from 9 through 14, enjoy the challenge, and their exuberance bubbles over in this delightful new recording of works by Johann Strauss, Jr. (Blue Danube Waltz, Emperor Waltz, Tritsch-Trratsch Polka), his father (Radetzky March), and brother Josef (Feuerfest Polka, For Ever Polka)."

"Presenting a diverse and challenging array of vocal music spanning many centuries, the Vienna Boys Choir...connected emotionally and artistically with Friday's audience. Their lyricism, diction, and highly refined voices, trained and honed to dizzying standards, soared and sparkled throughout the evening...From walking reverently onstage while singing a gentle Latin a cappella Gregorian chant and onward toward their final three curtain calls, the world-famous Vienna Boys Choir delivered their musical message of peace: music unites; it does not divide..."

"Their tone is pristine, their dynamics perfectly rendered, but of course it is their youth and pure soprano voices that make them unique."

"Besides the eclectic programming, let's not forget the sheer wonder of young voices thoroughly trained and ensembles carefully crafted, and all of it performed from memory. It seemed as though nothing could set Carnegie's vast space ringing like a high, finely-tuned major triad sung in vibratoless straight tone...looking around the hall, all one saw was people enjoying themselves at a well-planned and smartly performed concert."

"Pure and pristine sound..."