Peter Schreier
Peter Schreier | |
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Born | Meissen, Germany | 29 July 1935
Died | 25 December 2019 Dresden, Germany | (aged 84)
Education |
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Occupations |
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Organizations |
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Title | Kammersänger |
Awards |
Peter Schreier (29 July 1935 – 25 December 2019)[1] was a German tenor in opera, concert and lied, and a conductor. He was regarded as one of the leading lyric tenors of the 20th century.[2]
Schreier was a member of the
Schreier made many recordings, especially of Bach's works as both a singer and a conductor, even simultaneously. He recorded many lieder including the
Early life
Schreier was born in Meissen, Saxony, and grew up in the village of Gauernitz , near Meissen, where his father was a teacher, cantor and organist.[3] In June 1945, when Schreier was almost ten years old, and just a few months after the destruction of Dresden, he entered the boarding school of the Dresdner Kreuzchor boys' choir.[3][4] Its conductor Rudolf Mauersberger recognized his talent. He let him sing many solo alto parts and created compositions with his voice in mind.[3] Solo recordings from the time (1948–1951) were reissued on compact disc.[1]
Schreier was 16 years old when his
Career
Peter Schreier made his professional debut at the
Schreier was one of few singers from the
He recorded
In June 2000, Schreier left the opera stage.[4] His last role at the Berlin State Opera was Tamino; he argued that he could no longer pretend to be a young prince. He ended his singing career on 22 December 2005, combining the functions of Evangelist and conductor in a performance of Bach's Christmas Oratorio in Prague. He kept singing lieder, a genre he had pursued throughout his career, including the song cycles by Schubert and Schumann.[2]
From the early 1970s, Schreier was also a conductor with a special interest in the works of Mozart, Bach, and Haydn.[11] He conducted orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic.[2]
Personal life
Schreier was married and lived in Dresden from 1945 until his death, in the district of Loschwitz.[2] He died in Dresden on Christmas Day, 25 December 2019, after a long illness.[6] He was survived by his wife, Renate, and two sons, Torsten and Ralf.[12] The funeral service took place at the Kreuzkirche, Dresden on 8 January 2020.[13]
Evaluation
Schreier was an extremely intelligent singer, with sympathetic feeling for the text.[14] Monika Grütters, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, summarised after his death that he was one of the most impressive voices from Germany ("eine der eindrucksvollsten Stimmen unseres Landes"), who represented Germany in the opera houses of the world as a nation of culture ("für die Kulturnation Deutschland gestanden"), remembered as the Evangelist in Bach's Passions, and having written music history in a career of four decades.[1]
Honours and awards
- Kammersänger (title conferred to singers of outstanding merit) by the governments of the GDR, Austria and Bavaria, 1963, 1980, 1982[4][15]
- National First Class Prize of the GDR, 1967[4]
- Robert Schumann Prize of the City of Zwickau, 1969[16]
- Handel Prize of the City of Halle, 1972[17]
- National Prize of the GDR, 1972[4]
- Gold Vaterländischer Verdienstorden, 1984[5]
- Ernst von Siemens Music Prize, 1988[4]
- Léonie Sonning Music Prize, Denmark, 1988[4]
- Honorary membership of the Musikverein Wien (Vienna Society of Music), 1986[17]
- Star of People's Friendship, 1989[15]
- Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, 1989[4]
- Bundesverdienstkreuz I. Klasse (Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany), 1993[11]
- Member of the Academy of Arts, Berlin, 1993[4]
- Wiener Flötenuhr, 1994[4]
- Georg Philipp Telemann Prize of the city of Magdeburg, 1994[4]
- German Bible Prize, for service in the great Passions and Interpretation of the work of J.S. Bach, 1998[18]
- European Church Music Prize, 2000[19]
- Honorary citizen of the city of Meissen for efforts in fundraising for the city's restoration[4]
- Royal Academy of Music/Kohn Foundation Bach Prize, 2009[20]
- Hugo Wolf Medal, Hugo Wolf Academy, Stuttgart, 2011[21]
- International Mendelssohn Prize of the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Foundation, Leipzig, 2011[22]
- Bach Medal, Bach Festival Leipzig, for interpretation of Bach, 2013[23]
- Sächsischer Verdienstorden, 2016[24]
- Kunstpreis der Landeshauptstadt Dresden, 2016[25]
Discography
The German National Library holds recordings by Schreier, including:[26]
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[27]
- 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
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)
- 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
Documentary films
- Peter Schreier – Alles hat seine Zeit. 83 Min., directed and produced by Heide Blum. D 2006. OCLC 315720106
Literature
- Gottfried Schmiedel: Peter Schreier für Sie porträtiert. VEB Deutscher Verlag für Musik Leipzig, Leipzig 1976 DNB-IDN 770150675
- Peter Schreier: Aus meiner Sicht. Gedanken und Erinnerungen, Ostberlin 1983, 207 pages. ISBN 978-3-552-03535-5
- Lewinski, Wolf-Eberhard von (1992). Peter Schreier: Interviews, Tatsachen, Meinungen. Munich, Mainz: Piper, Schott. ISBN 978-3-492-18280-5.
- Jürgen Helfricht: Peter Schreier – Melodien eines Lebens. Verlag der Kunst Dresden, Husum 2008, ISBN 978-3-86530-109-3
- Renate Rätz: Schreier, Peter. In: Wer war wer in der DDR? 5. Ausgabe. Vol. 2, Ch. Links, Berlin 2010, ISBN 978-3-86153-561-4.
- Manfred Meier, Peter Schreier: Im Rückspiegel : Erinnerungen und Ansichten, recorded by Manfred Meier, Wien: Steinbauer 2005, ISBN 978-3-902494-04-7.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Tenor Peter Schreier ist tot". Die Zeit (in German). Hamburg. 27 December 2019. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Leading German tenor Peter Schreier dies at 84". bbc.com. BBC News. 26 December 2019. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
- ^ a b c Tewinkel, Christiane (29 July 2015). "Der Neonhelle". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Berlin. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Boisits, Barbara (2019). "Peter Schreier". Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon online (in German). Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ Mauró, Helmut (26 December 2015). "Einfach einer der Größten". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Munich. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Dresdner Tenor-Legende Peter Schreier im Alter von 84 Jahren gestorben". mdr.de (in German). Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. 26 December 2019. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Opera tenor and conductor Peter Schreier dies at 84". dw.com. Bonn. dpa, AFP, AP. 26 December 2019. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Tenor Peter Schreier ist tot". Vienna State Opera (in German). 26 December 2019. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Erhard Mauersberger & Thomanerchor Leipzig & Gewandhausorchester Leipzig / Rudolf Mauersberger & Dresdner Kreuzchor / Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works". Bach Cantatas Website. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Helmuth Rilling / Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works / Recordings – Part 7". Bach Cantatas Website. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ Akademie der Künste. Berlin. 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ Tommasini, Anthony (31 December 2019). "Peter Schreier, 84, Elegant German Tenor Who Also Conducted, Dies". The New York Times.
- ^ Glaner, Guido (8 January 2020). "Bewegender Abschied vom verstorbenen Peter Schreier in der Kreuzkirche". TAG24 (in German).
- ISBN 978-0-19-280028-2. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Biographische Datenbanken: Schreier, Peter". bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de. Berlin: Bundesstiftung Aufarbeitung. 2019. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Robert-Schumann-Preis Preisträger". schumann-zwickau.de. Stadtverwaltung Zwickau. 2019. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-11-169913-4.
- ^ "Solisten-Archiv: Peter Schreier". Dresdner Philharmonie. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
- ^ "Preis der Europäischen Kirchenmusik". kulturpreise.de. Cologne. 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- ^ "The Bach Prize". ram.ac.uk. Royal Academy of Music. 2019. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Hugo-Wolf-Medaille für Tenor Peter Schreier". stimme.de. Heilbronner Stimme. 17 August 2011. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Mendelssohn-Preis geht an Reich-Ranicki und Schreier". Leipziger Volkszeitung (in German). Leipzig. dpa. 7 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Dresdner Kammersänger Peter Schreier erhält Bach-Medaille". Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten (in German). Dresden. dpa. 9 September 2015. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Tillich überreicht Sächsischen Verdienstorden". ministerpraesident.sachsen.de. Ministerpräsident Sachsen. 1 June 2016. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
- ^ "Kunst- und Förderpreis der Landeshauptstadt Dresden 2016". dresden.de. Dresden. 19 February 2016. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ Recordings with Peter Schreier German National Library
- ^ Kesting, Jürgen (26 December 2019). "Eine Stimme wie schimmerndes Silber". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Frankfurt. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
External links
- Literature by and about Peter Schreier in the German National Library catalogue
- Peter Schreier at AllMusic
- Peter Schreier (Tenor, Conductor) Bach Cantatas Website
- Alles hat seine Zeit (documentary) heide-blum.de2006
- Tenor / Conductor Peter Schreier / A Conversation with Bruce Duffie bruceduffie.com 10 March 1997
- Peter Schreier discography at Discogs