The San Francisco Boys Chorus under the leadership of Artistic Director, Ian Robertson, is pleased to announce the release of its latest CD, The San Francisco Boys Chorus sings Faure and Messager, featuring Gabriel Faure's moving Requiem Op. 48 and the Messe des Pecheurs de Villerville, a charming work jointly composed by Faure and this fellow Frenchman, Andre Messager.

The San Francisco Boys Chorus is proud to announce the release of their CD recording, The San Francisco Boys Chorus Sings Vivaldi: Gloria and Magnificat, the latest in a series of new releases featuring Maestro Ian Robertson leading the San Francisco Boys Chorus and Orchestra and leading Bay Area soloists. These works represent Vivaldi's most famous choral pieces and are outstandingly popular. Their wonderfully sunny nature, with their distinctive melodies and rhythms, is characteristic of all Vivaldi's music, giving it an immediate and universal appeal.

For over 50 years the SFBC has been one of America's foremost institutions for singing boys. It is featured regularly at the San Francisco Opera, Symphony and Ballet, as well as civic events and private concerts. With 130 boys of all cultural, ethnic and economic backgrounds, the SFBC is recognized as San Francisco's 'Singing Ambassadors.' All 17 songs are accompanied, by everything from organ and the SFBC Orchestra to piano and congas. Beginning with Handel's 'Coronation Anthem No. 1,' and Mozart's 'Ave Verum Corpus,' the Chorus continues with 6 songs from Haydn's 'Missa Brevis St. Joannis De Deo,' and 3 pieces from Mozart's 'Die Zauberflute' (The Magic Flute). Then we have 'America the Beautiful,' 'An American Hymn,' 'South African Freedom Song,' 'Bless the Lord,' the Scandinavian folk tune 'Who Can Sail' and the final tune, the immortal Stephen Foster's 'Some Folks.' The singing is lovely, especially the guest sopranos and tenor on 'Die Zauberflute.' A beautifully packaged, impressive CD by one of the best boys' choruses we've heard.

The SF Boys Chorus, founded as a resource for the San Francisco Opera in 1948, has developed into one of America's foremost musical and educational institutions for singing boys. Over the years the chorus has regularly provided boys for choruses and solos for the SF Opera, Symphony, Ballet and the Carmel Bach Festival. Officially named 'SF's Singing Ambassadors to the World,' the chorus has performed in Carnegie Hall and toured in Europe, Russia, Japan, Korea, Italy and Australia. 'We're On Our Way' has 16 songs, particularly nice are the 6 movements of Mozart's 'Missa Brevis in C, K.220,' and his 'Laudate Dominum,' Cesar Franck's 'Panis Angelicus,' Henry Purcell's 'Sound the Trumpet,' Schubert's 'Ave Maria,' F. Coppola's sweet 'Little Moon,' and Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Pie Jesu from 'Requiem.' All piano, organ or orchestrally (by the SF Boys Chorus Orchestra) accompanied. Truly lovely!