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Czech Boys Choir: Young and flawless

Boni Pueri, the 28-voice-strong Czech Boys Choir, has to be among the finest happy-at-the-job ensembles of its kind. The group ended its American tour Monday with a bang-up concert at the Czech Embassy, matching the contrasting flavors of its three-part program with clever switches of attire: formal white-and-gold robes for the classical European opener; multicolored folkish shirt-and-breeches combinations for Czech folk songs; and a flashy show-biz finale in vaudeville regalia - top hats and red velvet vests -- for a tuneful romp through Broadway and other lighter tunes.

The young singers offered a multinational array of music in nine lucidly enunciated languages, even the English "th" rarely tripping them up. All this, plus clear phrasing, perfect intonation (both a cappella and accompanied singing) and 100 percent attention to conductor Jakub Martinec. Ranging in age from 9 to 20, the group included eight superb tenors and basses. Soprano and alto voices remained true to head-tone clarity, larynxes thankfully free of pop's stranglehold. While maintaining a "properly" disciplined boy-choir stance, the singers also radiated joy, as in the Gloria from Mozart's "Coronation" Mass. It included a solo quartet of operatic caliber and the two youngsters introducing the music did so with the pizazz of weathered impresarios.

Vilem Valkoun was the group's responsive accompanist.

Cecelia Porter (Washington Post) (14. 8. 2002)