After a Decade, The Vienna Boys Choir Returns to Manila for a Special Concert
Lukas Beck
Lukas Beck
The Vienna Boys Choir will stage a special concert on April 26 and 27 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, ahead of the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Austria and the Philippines.
Wearing their trademark sailor uniform, the Vienna Boys Choir returns to the Philippines after a decade for a special concert that celebrates the cultural ties between Austria and the Philippines.
Recognized as one of the most popular choirs in the world, the Vienna Boys Choir was founded in 1498 in Vienna, Austria by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. Today, it is made up of around 100 choristers aged 9 to 14, divided into touring groups that regularly perform in leading concert halls and festivals worldwide. The group has performed for royalty and dignitaries, as well as at church services, private concerts, and state occasions.
For its 2026 return, the special concert will take place on April 27 and 28 at 9 P.M. at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
“The Vienna Boys Choir is one of Austria’s most treasured cultural ambassadors,” said H.E. Johann Brieger, Austrian Ambassador, in a statement. “Their return to Manila after ten years is a wonderful opportunity to share Austria’s rich musical heritage with Filipino audiences and to celebrate the longstanding friendship between our two countries, especially as we look ahead to the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Austria and the Philippines in 2026.”
The choir’s history spans more than five centuries. In the 1800s, a young Franz Schubert spent several years as a choirboy, while Anton Bruckner also worked closely with the group in his role as an organist at the Court Chapel. Its repertoire ranges from classical masterpieces and sacred music to traditional Austrian works and international pieces. Alumni include figures such as Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, and Michael Haydn.
Members of the Vienna Boys Choir continue to serve as cultural ambassadors for Vienna, performing on tour and appearing in film and television. In 2017, UNESCO recognized the group as part of Austria’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, cementing its place in the country’s cultural legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Vienna Boys Choir is scheduled to perform a special concert residency on April 27 and April 28, 2026, at 9 P.M. The performances will be held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City, Metro Manila.
The residency marks a cultural prelude to the upcoming 80th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between Austria and the Philippines. The ensemble serves as Austria’s premier cultural ambassador to reinforce historic bilateral ties through classical music.
Founded in 1498 by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, the institution’s historic alumni include Joseph Haydn and Michael Haydn. Franz Schubert served as an early nineteenth-century choirboy, and Anton Bruckner later worked as the Court Chapel organist.
The ensemble’s expansive musical repertoire spans over five centuries of tradition. Performances balance foundational classical masterpieces and sacred liturgical music with traditional Austrian folk compositions and diverse, internationally curated contemporary arrangements.
UNESCO officially inscribed the Vienna Boys Choir into Austria’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2017. This designation formally recognizes the group’s historical significance, pedagogical legacy, and enduring global role as a guardian of Austrian heritage.
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