Dear <<First Name>>,

One of the greatest 20th century singers not only for sacred music would have celebrated his 85th birthday yesterday - Peter Schreier. We commemorate the concert, opera and recording projects Karajan realized with him. And we are starting our new series with features, interviews and more from the Richard Strauss villa in Garmisch. So – Read, watch, listen and stay healthy!

---P.R. Jenkins

Peter Schreier on discoverkarajan

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The photo above shows Peter Schreier as the Evangelist in a Bach “St Matthew Passion” conducted by Karajan in 1977, a part that brought Schreier international fame. Schreier was born in Eastern Germany in 1935 and was a citizen of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) until its demise in 1990. He later explained that he would never have left Dresden and the rich musical tradition of Saxony. Although he wasn’t member of the official socialist party SED, Schreier was allowed to travel and carved out an international career for himself without leaving the GDR. “Peter Schreier Sings Christmas Carols” was the most successful record ever made in the GDR selling 1,4 million copies. Schreier died on Christmas Day 2019.

It looks a little bit like “Star Trek” but in fact it is Karajan’s “Rheingold” film, made in 1978 with Peter Schreier as Loge, the god of fire.

Karajan’s and Schreier’s first collaboration was the legendary “Meistersinger” studio recording in 1970 with Schreier as David and the Staatskapelle Dresden, the oldest orchestra in the world and one of the best – associated with composers like Schütz, Weber, Wagner and Richard Strauss. Schreier appeared in the same role at the Salzburg Easter Festival in 1974 (3rd from left), with Karl Ridderbusch (Sachs), Kerstin Meyer (Magdalene), Gundula Janowitz (Eva) and René Kollo (Stolzing). Click on the photo to listen to the wonderful quintet!

Recording of the week

On the subject of Karajan’s “Meistersinger” with Peter Schreier as David the “Gramophone” wrote: “This set is pure joy, a deeply moving experience”. The cast, the brilliant sound and the low price make it a must for every Wagnerian! Still available here.

The week in Karajan

Inside Richard Strauss! Right in Strauss’ original rooms, Julia Binek talks to Matthew Werley, general secretary of the “International Richard Strauss Society”, about the foundation of the Salzburg Festival, a hundred years ago, and many other topics. Feel at home with Richard Strauss and watch here!

Tips

Like many other singers, Peter Schreier started his career in a boys’ choir, the “Dresdner Kreuzchor”. Watch a little documentary about his early years here.

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