Peter Schreier

Peter Schreier, the son of a cantor and a teacher, was born in Meißen. As a member of Dresden's Kreuzchor, he frequently sang solo parts, among others the alto in a number of Bach's oratorios. The year Schreier started his studies (voice and conducting) at the Dresden Academy of Music – 1959 – was also the year he made his stage debut; by 1961 he was already a member of the Dresden State Opera. In 1963 he signed a guest contract with the German National Opera in Berlin, and by 1969 he had added another with the Vienna State Opera. 1966 saw the tenor make his debut at the Bayreuth Festival; a year later, he appeared at the Salzburg Festival, where he would be a guest performer for the next 25 years. He has sung on all the great stages – at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, La Scala in Milan, and the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. Schreier has been awarded numerous commendations and prizes for his services: Bavaria, Austria and the GDR all bestowed him with the title of Chamber Singer. In 1981 he was made an honorary professor of singing. As a former member of the Kreuzchor and in view of the Saxon and Protestant tradition of his forbears, the works of Bach – along with those of Mozart and the German lieder – have always been a main focus of his artistic career: a feature documented by his impressive discography. Since 1979, Peter Schreier has made an increasing number of appearances as a conductor, in concert with the Dresden Staatskapelle, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.