Artists PETER BREINER > BIOGRAPHY

PETER BREINER / CONDUCTOR, PIANIST, ARRANGER, COMPOSER

• BIOGRAPHY

Peter Breiner has conducted, often doubling as a pianist, 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, to mention just a few. He is one of the world’s most recorded musicians, with over 260 CDs released, millions of albums sold and uncountable streams/downloads.

After moving from New York to London during the 2020 lockdown, Peter started collaborating with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a recording of three Stravinsky ballets (Rite of Spring, Petroushka, Firebird) for the OnAir video streaming company.
In December 2024, he will collaborate with the London Symphony Orchestra in a recording of Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique and a programme of Christmas carols for the same platform.

Some of his most acclaimed recordings include Beatles Go Baroque (over a quarter of million CDs sold worldwide) and Elvis Goes Baroque representing the collections of his commercially most successful Baroque arrangements together with Christmas Goes Baroque 1 and 2. The follow-up to this bestseller – Beatles go Baroque 2 was recorded in December 2018 with some of the best soloists in the world and released in 2019 on Naxos label to general critical acclaim and massive interest at streaming sites.

His arrangements of national anthems of ALL participating countries were used during the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and illegally in Beijing in 2008.

Peter recorded his own arrangements of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Songs and Dances of Death and The Nursery and Tchaikovsky’s Operatic Suites from The Voyevoda and The Queen of Spades for Naxos. These recordings, with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Peter, are the subject of a movie documentary entitled Bask. In addition, September 2012 saw the award-winning Naxos release of Peter’s own arrangements of Debussy’s 24 Piano Preludes.

The world premiere recording for Naxos of his own arrangements of Janacek’s Six Operatic Suites with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and himself conducting earned similar acclaim, Gramophone stating “Splendid disc .... conducted with passion and sympathetic understanding …“ the Chicago Tribune adding “Breiner fills the void with beautifully crafted symphonic suites based on the music of Jenufa”. All of these albums achieved places on worlwide Top Seller and Best Recording lists. His trio, Triango’s latest album was released in the fall of 2011 by First Impression Music.

In 2020 Peter started recording and releasing a multi-album project called Calm Romantic Piano, the last, third volume (Mornings, Evenings and Late Nights) released in September 2022.

Peter was the curator of “Sounds of Serendipity” – a series of Contemporary Classical Music Concerts featuring new and emerging composers and performers with a unique connection to both Peter and Czechoslovak music culture. The annual series was presented at the Bohemian National Hall, New York.

Peter began to study piano in his early childhood (1961) and his exceptional artistry led to his early acceptance at the Conservatory in Kosice (1971). He studied piano (L. Kojanova), composition (J. Podprocky), conducting, and percussion. In 1975–1981 he studied composition at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (former Czechoslovakia) with Prof. Alexander Moyzes, one of the most significant figures in modern Slovak music - and this way, he became a compositional great-grandson of Antonin Dvorak.
Peter Breiner lived in Toronto, Canada, from 1992 till 2007, when he moved to New York, and in July 2020 he moved to London, United Kingdom.

PETER BREINER / CONDUCTOR, PIANIST, ARRANGER, COMPOSER

• PRESS

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

..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

I found Voyevoda especially energetic, and played with flair by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Peter Mechen, The Critic’s Chair, Radio New Zealand

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.

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

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

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

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