GermanConductorTenorBach musician

Peter Schreier

Peter Schreier was a celebrated German tenor and conductor, renowned for his lyric tenor roles, Bach interpretations, and extensive conducting career.

1. Overview

Peter Schreier (1935-2019) was a celebrated German tenor and conductor, recognized as one of the foremost lyric tenors of the 20th century. His extensive career spanned opera, concert, and lied performances, making significant contributions to classical music interpretation. Schreier was particularly renowned for his profound understanding and expressive delivery of texts, notably in the Evangelist roles of Bach's Passions and oratorios, and his interpretations of song cycles by Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann. Despite living and working in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), he achieved a rare international presence, performing at major opera houses and festivals worldwide. Beyond his vocal artistry, Schreier also established a distinguished career as a conductor, specializing in the works of Bach, Mozart, and Joseph Haydn. His legacy is marked by his artistic intelligence, his impactful recordings, and his role as a cultural ambassador for Germany.

2. Early life and Education

Peter Schreier's foundational musical journey began in his childhood, shaped by his family's musical environment and his formative years with a prestigious boys' choir.

2.1. Childhood and Education

Born on July 29, 1935, in Meissen, Saxony, Peter Schreier grew up in the nearby village of GauernitzGerman. His father was a teacher, cantor, and organist, fostering a musical atmosphere at home. In June 1945, at just shy of ten years old and only months after the devastating destruction of Dresden, Schreier enrolled in the Dresdner Kreuzchor boys' choir's boarding school. The choir, then undergoing reorganization, saw Schreier and several other boys living in a basement on the outskirts of Dresden. The choir's conductor, Rudolf Mauersberger, quickly recognized Schreier's exceptional talent, often assigning him solo alto parts and composing pieces specifically tailored to his voice. Recordings of his solo alto performances from 1948 to 1951 have since been reissued.

At the age of 16, Schreier's voice broke, transitioning to a tenor, a development he had passionately hoped for due to the significant tenor roles of the Evangelist in J.S. Bach's Passions and his Christmas Oratorio. Determined to pursue a professional singing career, he began private voice lessons from 1954 to 1956. He continued his formal musical studies at the Musikhochschule Dresden, where he also undertook studies in conducting.

3. Musical Activities

Peter Schreier's career as a singer was remarkably diverse, encompassing a wide range of operatic roles, acclaimed concert performances, and deeply insightful interpretations of lieder. His international engagements were particularly notable given his origins.

3.1. Opera Career

Schreier made his professional operatic debut in 1957 at the Dresdner Staatsoper, performing the role of the First Prisoner in Beethoven's Fidelio. His major breakthrough came in 1962 with his portrayal of Belmonte in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail, a role he also performed alongside Tamino in The Magic Flute. In 1963, he joined the prestigious Berlin State Opera.

From 1966 onwards, Schreier became a regular annual guest at the Vienna State Opera, where he performed in 200 productions. His debut there in 1967 was as Tamino, and his roles at this esteemed institution included Belmonte, Don Ottavio in Mozart's Don Giovanni, the title role in Idomeneo, Flamand in Richard Strauss's Capriccio, Lenski in Tchaikovsky's Eugen Onegin, Count Almaviva in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Loge in Wagner's Das Rheingold. Also in 1966, he made his debut at the Bayreuth Festival as the young seaman in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, under the baton of Karl Böhm; this was his sole appearance at Bayreuth. For 25 years, beginning in 1967, he was a regular participant in the annual Salzburg Festival. Throughout his career, Schreier performed more than 60 operatic roles.

Peter Schreier (right) with baritone Bernd Weikl and the Staatskapelle Dresden in 1973
Peter Schreier (right) with baritone Bernd Weikl and the Staatskapelle Dresden in 1973


A notable and at times controversial aspect of his career involved his commitment to singing the title role of Hans Pfitzner's opera Palestrina. He performed this role not only in Munich, the site of the opera's world premiere and a place where the work was frequently staged, but also in East Berlin. This was particularly significant as Pfitzner held a reputation as a political conservative, even being perceived by some as pro-Nazi, making his work a subject of debate in East Germany, which maintained an anti-Nazi stance. Additionally, Schreier starred as The Witch in Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel for a CD recording with the Staatskapelle Dresden.

3.2. Concert and Lied Singing

Peter Schreier was widely acclaimed for his outstanding interpretations of lieder, a genre he cultivated throughout his entire career. He was particularly celebrated for his renditions of the song cycles by Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann, with his performances of Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin, Winterreise, and Schwanengesang being highly regarded for their depth and expressive range. Critics noted his exceptional ability to convey the emotional nuances and textual meaning with intensity and a wide array of vocal colors.

A cornerstone of Schreier's repertoire from his early years was the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. He was especially renowned for his iconic portrayals of the Evangelist in Bach's great Passions, including the St Matthew Passion and St John Passion, as well as the Christmas Oratorio. His interpretations in these roles were characterized by their textual and musical expressiveness, making him a leading figure in Bach performance. He delivered an excellent performance in 1979 at the 250th anniversary of St Matthew Passion in East Berlin, which also marked the 150th anniversary of its revival by Mendelssohn. He recorded Bach cantatas regularly with the Thomanerchor and the Gewandhaus Orchestra under the direction of Erhard Mauersberger, collaborating with soloists such as Adele Stolte, Annelies Burmeister, and Theo Adam. One such notable recording was the cantata for Pentecost, Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! BWV 172, in 1970. His recordings of the St Matthew Passion include collaborations with conductors like Rudolf and Erhard Mauersberger, Karl Richter, Claudio Abbado, and Herbert von Karajan. He also recorded Bach's St John Passion and Christmas Oratorio with Helmuth Rilling.

3.3. International Activities

Peter Schreier was one of the few singers from the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) who consistently performed on the international stage. His global engagements included appearances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna State Opera (where he was an annual guest for many years), and the Salzburg Festival. These international performances were significant not only for showcasing his artistry but also for his role in cultural exchange, effectively representing Germany as a cultural nation in opera houses and concert halls around the world, as noted by Monika Grütters, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.

4. Conducting Career

Peter Schreier began his conducting career in the early 1970s, developing a particular affinity for the works of Mozart, Bach, and Joseph Haydn. He led renowned orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic.

A distinctive aspect of his conducting career, particularly in Bach's oratorios, was his occasional practice of simultaneously conducting and performing the role of the Evangelist. This unique approach allowed for a unified musical vision. His final public performance as a singer was on December 22, 2005, in Prague, where he combined the roles of conductor and Evangelist for a performance of Bach's Christmas Oratorio at the Rudolfinum's Dvořák Hall with the Czech Philharmonic. This sold-out event, following a similar performance the previous day, marked his complete retirement from public singing. Prior to this, in November 2005, he undertook farewell singing engagements in Japan, performing in Osaka, Tokyo, and Okaya, with a performance of Schubert's Winterreise in Okaya marking his last sung performance in Japan.

5. Retirement and Later Activities

In June 2000, Peter Schreier retired from the opera stage. His final operatic role was Tamino in The Magic Flute at the Berlin State Opera. He cited his inability to believably portray a young prince as the reason for his decision. He concluded his active singing career on December 22, 2005, with a performance of Bach's Christmas Oratorio in Prague, where he both conducted and sang the Evangelist role. Following his retirement from the stage, Schreier continued to actively engage in conducting and music education, focusing his efforts on nurturing young musicians. This included conducting the Dresdner Kreuzchor, his alma mater.

6. Personal Life

Peter Schreier was married to Renate Schreier and was the father of two sons, Torsten and Ralf. He resided in the Loschwitz district of Dresden from 1945 until his death. Peter Schreier died in Dresden on Christmas Day, December 25, 2019, at the age of 84, following a prolonged illness. His funeral service was held at the Kreuzkirche, Dresden on January 8, 2020.

7. Evaluation and Legacy

Peter Schreier was widely regarded as an extraordinarily intelligent singer, praised for his profound empathy for the texts he performed. His voice was described by some as "shimmering silver," showcasing a remarkable range of tone and intensity in conveying the meaning of words. The Penguin CD Guide, in a review of his late recording of Schubert's Schwanengesang, acknowledged that while his voice might no longer possess its full beauty under pressure, "the range of tone and the intensity of inflexion over word-meaning makes this one of the most compelling recordings ever." The same publication lauded his Winterreise as "an intensely involving reading, with changes of mood vividly conveyed, positive, electrifying."

He was particularly considered one of the finest Mozart singers of his generation and delivered outstanding interpretations of Wagnerian roles such as Loge in Das Rheingold and Mime in Siegfried. As a performer and conductor of Bach's works, he was considered among the very best of his time.

Monika Grütters, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, described Schreier as "one of the most impressive voices of our country" after his passing. She noted that he "represented Germany in the opera houses of the world as a nation of culture," highlighting his enduring memory as the Evangelist in Bach's Passions and his four-decade career of writing music history. His contributions left a lasting impact on classical music and vocal interpretation.

8. Awards and Honors

Throughout his distinguished career, Peter Schreier received numerous awards and honors recognizing his significant contributions to music:

  • Kammersänger (title conferred to singers of outstanding merit) by the governments of the GDR (1963), Austria (1980), and Bavaria (1982)
  • National First Class Prize of the GDR (1967)
  • Robert Schumann Prize of the City of Zwickau (1969)
  • Handel Prize of the City of Halle (1972)
  • National Prize of the GDR (1972)
  • Gold Vaterländischer Verdienstorden (1984)
  • Honorary membership of the Musikverein Wien (Vienna Society of Music) (1986)
  • Ernst von Siemens Music Prize (1988)
  • Léonie Sonning Music Prize, Denmark (1988)
  • Star of People's Friendship (1989)
  • Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music (1989)
  • Bundesverdienstkreuz I. Klasse (Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany) (1993)
  • Member of the Academy of Arts, Berlin (1993)
  • Wiener Flötenuhr (1994)
  • Georg Philipp Telemann Prize of the city of Magdeburg (1994)
  • German Bible Prize, for service in the great Passions and interpretation of the work of J.S. Bach (1998)
  • European Church Music Prize (2000)
  • Honorary citizen of the city of Meissen, for his efforts in fundraising for the city's restoration
  • Royal Academy of Music/Kohn Foundation Bach Prize (2009)
  • Hugo Wolf Medal, Hugo Wolf Academy, Stuttgart (2011)
  • International Mendelssohn Prize of the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Foundation, Leipzig (2011)
  • Bach Medal, Bach Festival Leipzig, for interpretation of Bach (2013)
  • Sächsischer Verdienstorden (2016)
  • Kunstpreis der Landeshauptstadt Dresden (2016)

9. Discography

Peter Schreier's extensive discography includes numerous recordings as both a singer and a conductor, often focusing on works by Bach, Mozart, and the German Romantic Lied tradition.

9.1. As singer

  • 80th Anniversary Edition, Berlin Classics (Edel) 2015
  • Johann Sebastian Bach:
    • Matthäus-Passion (Evangelist and arias), conducted by Karl Richter, Archiv Produktion (Universal Music) 1989
    • Johannes-Passion, conducted by Hans-Joachim Rotzsch, RCA Classic (Sony Music) 1998
    • Weihnachtsoratorium, conducted by Martin Flämig, Dresdner Philharmonie, Dresdner Kreuzchor, Lukaskirche 1974
  • Ludwig van Beethoven: An die ferne Geliebte, with András Schiff, piano, Decca (Universal Music) 1996
  • Hector Berlioz: Requiem, conducted by Charles Munch, Deutsche Grammophon (Universal Music) 2009
  • Johannes Brahms: Die schöne Magelone, with András Schiff, Belvedere (Harmonia Mundi) 2015
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
    • Opera Arias, Polygram Records 1990
    • Die Zauberflote (Tamino), conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch, EMI (Warner Classics) 1987
    • Der Odem der Liebe. Peter Schreier als Mozart-Tenor, conducted by Otmar Suitner, Eterna 1973
  • Prokofjew - Hindemith: Lieder, Berlin Classics (Edel) 2004
  • Franz Schubert:
    • Die schöne Müllerin (with Konrad Ragossnig, guitar), Berlin Classics (Edel) 2004
    • Die Winterreise (setting for voice and string quartet), Profil (Naxos) 2015
    • Schubert Songs, with András Schiff, Wigmore Hall Live (CODAEX Deutschland) 2006
  • Heinrich Schütz: Johannes-Passion SWV 481 / Psalmen Davids, conducted by Martin Flämig, Berlin classics (Edel) 1997
  • Robert Schumann:
    • Dichterliebe, with Christoph Eschenbach, Teldec Classics International GmbH 1991
    • Dichterliebe / Liederkreis, with Norman Shetler, Berlin Classics (Edel) 2007
  • Vom Knabenalt zum lyrischen Tenor, Berlin Classics (Edel) 1995
  • Richard Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (Melot), conducted by Herbert von Karajan, EMI - His Masters Voice, 1988
  • Hugo Wolf:
    • Goethe-Lieder, with Wolfgang Sawallisch, Ariola Eurodisc 1986
    • Mörike-Lieder, with Karl Engel, Orfeo (Naxos Deutschland) 1998

9.2. As conductor

  • Johann Sebastian Bach:
    • Weihnachtsoratorium, (selections) Staatskapelle Dresden. MC, Eterna-Digital, 1985
    • Johannes-Passion, Staatskapelle Dresden, Newton Classics (Membran), 2011
    • Zwei Hochzeitskantaten (Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten, BWV 202 / O holder Tag, erwünschte Zeit, BWV 210), the Kammerorchester Berlin, Brilliant Classics (c. 2000)
    • Weltliche Kantaten (Was mit behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd, BWV 208 / Ich bin in mir vergnügt, BWV 204), Brilliant Classics (c. 2000)
    • Matthäus-Passion, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Staatskapelle Dresden, VEB Schallplatten, Berlin/GDR, 1984
    • Messe h-Moll, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Staatskapelle Dresden, Philips Classics Production, 1992
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
    • Requiem, Margaret Price, Trudeliese Schmidt, Francisco Araiza, Theo Adam; Rundfunkchor Leipzig & Staatskapelle Dresden, Philips, 1983