Peter Breiner
Conductor, pianist,
composer, arranger
Biography
Known as a conductor, pianist, arranger, and composer, Peter Breiner has led some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras. He is one of the most recorded musicians, with over 260 CDs released and millions of albums sold.
Peter Breiner has conducted, often from the piano, many orchestras such as: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Mozart Orchestra, the Westdeutsche Rundfunk Symphony, Hungarian State Radio Orchestra, Nicolaus Esterhazy Orchestra Budapest, Polish Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra, Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Capella Istropolitana, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra National de Lille, France, and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra…
After moving from New York to London during the 2020 lockdown, Peter began collaborating with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He recorded their album “A Journey” (Naxos) as both conductor and piano soloist, and recently led the RPO in a recording of three Stravinsky ballets (Rite of Spring, Petrushka, Firebird) for OnAir, a streaming company.
In December 2024, he will collaborate with the London Symphony Orchestra in a recording of Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique as well as a program around Christmas carols for the same platform.
Some of his most renowned recordings include Beatles go Baroque and Elvis goes Baroque, as well as Christmas goes Baroque 1 and 2. The sequel to this best-selling album – Beatles go Baroque 2 was recorded in December 2018 with some of the world’s finest soloists and released in 2019 on the Naxos label to excellent critical acclaim and massive interest on streaming sites.
He arranged the national anthems of all the countries participating in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and recorded his own arrangements of the anthems of the participating countries in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Peter has recorded his own arrangements of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Songs and Dances of Death, and The Nursery, as well as Tchaikovsky’s Opera Suites from The Voivode and The Queen of Spades (Naxos). These recordings, with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Peter, are the subject of a documentary film entitled Bask. In addition, in September 2012, the award-winning arrangement of Debussy’s 24 Piano Preludes was released on Naxos.
The world premiere recording of his own arrangements of Janacek’s Six Opera Suites with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and himself conducting achieved similar success, with Gramophone declaring “Splendid disc….conducted with passion and understanding…” The Chicago Tribune added “Breiner fills a void with beautifully crafted symphonic suites based on the music of Jenufa.”
In 2020, Peter began recording and releasing a multi-album project called Calm Romantic Piano, with the latest, third volume (Mornings, Evenings and Late Nights) released in September 2022.
Peter’s music or his arrangements have been used by dozens of choreographers in notable ballet companies (American Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet, Royal Ballet (GB), Balet Jorgen Canada, Queensland Ballet, Ballet am Rhein and many others).
Peter’s compositions and arrangements have been performed in concerts worldwide. Films featuring his musical scores have received extensive international exposure (such as Anne of Green Gables, Timothy Findley’s Piano Man’s Daughter, produced by Whoopi Goldberg, and The Magic Flute).
Peter began studying piano at the Kosice Conservatory. He studied piano (L. Kojanova), composition (J. Podprocky), conducting, and percussion. He studied composition at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava with Alexander Moyzes. Peter Breiner lived in Toronto, Canada, from 1992 until 2007, when he moved to New York City, and in July 2020, he settled in London, UK.
Press
This CD is a hoot ! … Instead of yet another version of the Dvořák Slavonic Dances, why don’t you try Breiner’s on for size ? I think you’ll be happy you did.
Mark Novak, Fanfare
By Alexandre Fournet
I found Voyevoda especially energetic, and played with flair by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Peter Mechen, The Critic’s Chair, Radio New Zealand
One of the most prominent representatives of new music from over the Atlantic – sensitive, emotional, and breathtaking. An absolute must hear !
Revue Musicale de Suisse Romande, Switzerland
Elegant and full of warmth, these (Slovak) dances are imaginatively orchestrated and extremely well crafted, and the playing is wonderfully affective. Nearly one hundred minutes of great entertainment, superbly annotated and recorded. Do take the plunge, you will relish it.
Gerald Fenech, Classical Music Daily
Astounding virtuosity, daring inventiveness, incredible skill and acrobatic wonders……master of improvisation…not only a briliant virtuoso but also a consummate entertainer.
The Review, Washington D.C.
What kind of wonder allowed him to couple Baroque music with songs of the Beatles in this extremely impressive way ? He wrote a modern “Brandenburg Concerto”
Le Monde, France
..Not since I heard Stokowski conduct his own orchestration at the Proms in 1966 have I been so impressed with an alternative to the Ravel. The Great Gate of Kiev brings the house down – this version makes it all the more regrettable that it was never built. The other works are equally effective…
Brian Wilson, musicweb-international.com
Peter Breiner is an Andre Previn of our time, if not a Leonard Bernstein, and I think he deserves far greater recognition.
Albert Wong, MusicData Hong Kong
These eight CD’s belong to the most important recordings in cross-over catalogue ever with all their dignity and high craft… Mr. Breiner’s fantasy knows no limitations.
Musikmarkt, Germany