Programme

Thursday, 7 July 2022

Afternoon: workshop no. 1
Evening: reception of the Church Master of St. Stephen's Cathedral in the roof atrium of St. Stephen’s to get acquainted

Friday, 8 July 2022

Morning: workshop no. 2
Afternoon: workshop no. 3

Saturday, 9 July 2022

Morning: dress rehearsal with the Vienna Cathedral Orchestra
Evening: grand concert at St. Stephen's Cathedral, followed by reception

Gerald Wirth

Vienna Boys Choir, President and Artistic Director
Superar, Co-Founder
Wirth Music Academy, Founder and Pedagogical Director

Gerald Wirth has been artistic director of the Vienna Boys Choir since 2001 and its president since 2013. He continues the choir's long tradition, while at the same time seeking new challenges for the boys' choir as an instrument. Wirth has initiated a number of trend-setting projects in connection with children's operas, world music and film music. In 2008 Gerald Wirth co-founded the music-social project "Superar", which aims to open up quality access to music for children and young people across all social, cultural and linguistic barriers. The "Wirth Music Academy", which he co-founded, organizes training and further education; it also works together with institutions in Asia and South America.

The regular work with children and musicians all over the world (Stimmbogen Austria, El Sistema in Venezuela, Mozartchoir of India, music pedagogy training in Jordan, VBCMA Hong Kong, regular exchanges with music pedagogues in China, etc.) has an immense influence on his artistic activities; as has his collaboration with well-known artistic personalities from various genres such as Nicolaus Hanoncourt, Ricardo Muti, Pierre Boulez, Bertrand de Billy, Ravi Shankar, Zubin Metha, Peter Wolf and many others.

Gerald Wirth is not only concerned with perfecting musical performance, but much more with music as a medium that positively influences every area of the personality. Over the years he has developed his own method of elementary and general music education, with which people of all ages can learn to express themselves in music.

 Vienna Cathedral Orchestra

The history of music in St. Stephen's Cathedral probably goes back as far as liturgy has been celebrated in this church, i.e. at least 870 years! The first documented mention of the organized church music is in the abbey letter of Duke Rudolf IV from the year 1365, in which in connection with the establishment of a collegiate chapter (today's cathedral chapter) also a cantor is mentioned, who was responsible for choirmaster, choristers and pupils (Stephaner Sängerknaben). Among the prominent musicians who were active at St. Stephen's Cathedral, Johann Joseph Fux, the brothers Michael and Joseph Haydn, and Wolfgang Amadé Mozart may be mentioned.

Today's cathedral music consists of the Vienna Cathedral Choir and the Vocal Ensemble of St. Stephen's, the Choralschola and the Vienna Cathedral Orchestra. The full-time musicians at St. Stephen's Cathedral are Director of Music Markus Landerer, cathedral organists Ernst Wally and Konstantin Reymaier, and organist Thomas Dolezal. The primary task of the Cathedral Music is the arrangement of the High Mass at 10:15am on all Sundays and holidays throughout the year. In addition, the Cathedral Music organizes a large number of other services and regular cathedral concerts throughout the year.

Concert in St. Stephen's Cathedral

  TO THE CONCERT  

1137 After an exchange of building grounds, the opportunity turned up to build a representative new cathedral
1147 Consecration of St. Stephen’s as a foundation of the episcopate of Passau
1177–1194 During this time of the rule of Duke Leopold V. of Babenberg the west part of
St. Stephen’s – i.e. the great west portal and the west gallery as well as the west towers („Heidentürme) were built
1304 The choir hall was built thanks to a donation of the citizens of Vienna
1359 Following the donations by Duke Rudolf IV. the two nave portals (the „Singertor” on the south and the “Bischofstor” on the north side) were erected
1404–1429 Peter von Prachatitz cathedral architect. With financial assistance from the citizens of Vienna, rapid progress is made on the construction of the south tower
1433 South tower completed by Hans von Prachatitz
1440 Roof structure erected
1446 Hans Puchsbaum begins the nave vault
1450 Planning, beginning of construction of the north tower
1511 North tower project abandoned
1752 Porch at the entrance to the catacombs (obsequies for Mozart held here on Dec. 6, 1791)
19th cent. General repair works
1945 Fire in the last days of the Second World War
1945–52 Reconstruction of roof and chancel. Restauration works have been going on continuously since then

St. Stephen's Cathedral, Stephansplatz 3, 1010 Vienna — Google Maps