Peter Seiffert

{{Short description|German tenor (1954–2025)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Peter Seiffert | image = Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F074157-0035, Frankfurt, ZNS Weihnachtskonzert, Hannelore Kohl (crop Peter Seiffert).jpg | caption = Seiffert at a charity concert, 1986 | birth_date = {{birth date|1954|01|04|df=y}} | birth_place = Düsseldorf, West Germany | death_date = {{death date and age|2025|04|14|1954|01|04|df=y}} | death_place = Schleedorf, Austria | education = | occupation = Operatic tenor | organizations = {{ubl| Deutsche Oper am Rhein | Deutsche Oper Berlin }} | awards = Grammy Award | title = Kammersänger }}

'''Peter Seiffert''' (4 January 1954 – 14 April 2025) was a German tenor. He was based at the Deutsche Oper Berlin from 1980. Götz Friedrich in Berlin and Wolfgang Sawallisch at the Bavarian State Opera supported the development of his voice from lyric Mozart roles to portraying characters in Wagner's stage works such as Lohengrin, Tannhäuser and Tristan with a light lyric tenor voice of Italian timbre. He performed at international opera houses such as the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, and at festivals including the Bayreuth Festival.

== Life and career == Born in Düsseldorf on 4 January 1954,<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /> his father Helmut Seiffert was an opera singer and composer of Schlager. Seiffert sang in a boys' choir, sometimes as a soloist.<ref name="Munzinger" /> He studied at the Musikhochschule in Düsseldorf,<ref name="Kesting" /> especially with M. Röhrig.<ref name="Munzinger" /><ref name="Bayreuth" /> He also pursued training as a physical therapist.<ref name="Munzinger" />

Seiffert made his debut in 1978 at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /> in Reimann's ''Lear''.<ref name="Kesting" /> He remained a member of the ensemble for two seasons. In 1979, he achieved a second place in the Deutscher Musikwettbewerb.<ref name="Kesting" />

=== Deutsche Oper Berlin === Seiffert became a member of the ensemble of the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1980,<ref name="DOB" /> where his roles included Lenski in Tchaikovsky's ''Eugen Onegin'', Hans in Smetana's ''Die verkaufte Braut'' and Hüon in Weber's ''Oberon''.<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /> He appeared as Matteo In ''Arabella'' by R. Strauss in 1982, followed by Mozart's Tamino in Die Zauberflöte and Don Ottavio in ''Don Giovanni''. He expanded his repertoire by the title role in Gounod's ''Faust'', and roles by Albert Lortzing and Leoš Janáček.<ref name="DOB obit" /> Intendant Götz Friedrich developed him gradually to a lyric-dramatic tenor who also sang heldentenor roles; he portrayed Verdi's Otello and Pedro in d'Albert's ''Tiefland''.<ref name="DOB obit" />

It was Lohengrin in Berlin in 1990 which marked his international breakthrough.<ref name="Krasting" /> Reviewer {{ill|Klaus Geitel|de}} described it as a "Weltereignis des Wagner-Gesangs", a world event in Wagner singing, because the singer provided the "blue-silvery radiance" that Thomas Mann had admired, possible due to his light lyric tenor with an Italian timbre and a controlled vibrato.<ref name="Kesting" /> He portrayed Tristan there in 2002, and a reviewer noted that he "mastered the role brilliantly, not with the means of the dark-voiced hero, but with a slender, luminous voice", but missed a metaphysical dimension of dream and grief.<ref name="Kesting" /> In 2003 a recording of Tannhäuser with Daniel Barenboim and Seiffert in the title role was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording.<ref name="Bayreuth" /> His last appearance at the house was as Tannhäuser in 2019. He had interpreted 26 roles in over 300 performances, and became an honorary member of the company in 2024.<ref name="DOB obit" />

=== Bavarian State Opera === Seiffert developed a close relation to the Bavarian State Opera where he first appeared in 1983 as Fenton in Nicolai's ''Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor''.<ref name="Krasting" /> With musical director Wolfgang Sawallisch, he began in Mozart roles such as Tamino and Don Ottavio and then appeared as Nureddin in ''Der Barbier von Bagdad'',<ref name="Krasting" /> his first recognised success.<ref name="Kesting" /> Sawallisch was the first to engage him as Lohengrin,<ref name="Krasting" /> in 1989.<ref name="Kesting" /> He went on to sing other Wagner roles there, Erik in ''Der fliegende Holländer'', the title role in ''Tannhäuser'', Siegmund in ''Die Walküre'', Tristan, Walther von Stolzing in ''Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg'' and Parsifal. He also appeared there as Florestan in Beethoven's ''Fidelio'', Max in Weber's ''Der Freischütz'' and Verdi's ''Otello''.<ref name="Krasting" /> He performed in Munich and on tours with the ensemble to Japan in 150 performances, and also in recitals and concerts. He was named a Bavarian Kammersänger in 1992.<ref name="Krasting" />

=== Vienna State Opera === Seiffert made his debut at the Vienna State Opera in 1984 as Matteo in ''Arabella''.<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /><ref name="DOB obit" /><ref name="Vienna State Opera" /> He appeared then as Hans, and in Wagner roles Erik, Lohengrin, Walther von Stolzing, Siegmund, Parsifal, Tannhäuser and Tristan<ref name="Vienna State Opera" /> in 2013 in a new production that was recorded live, with Nina Stemme as Isolde and Franz Welser-Möst conducting.<ref name="Thompson" /> His roles at the house also included Tamino, Max, Turiddu in Mascagni's ''Cavalleria rusticana'' and Otello. He portrayed Florestan 25 times. In 2013 he was named Austrian Kammersänger.<ref name="Vienna State Opera" />

=== International performances === Seiffert appeared at the Royal Opera House in London first in 1988 as Parsifal.<ref name="Kesting" /> In the 1992 opening of the new opera house in Nagoya, Japan, he performed as the Emperor in ''Die Frau ohne Schatten'' by R. Strauss. He appeared at the 1994 Salzburg Festival as Don Ottavio.<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /> He appeared at the 1994 Salzburg Festival as Don Ottavio.<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /> He performed as Tannhäuser at the Zürich Opera in 1999.<ref name="Kesting" />

Seiffert made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera (Met) as Tannhäuser in 2004, with Deborah Voigt as Elisabeth and Mark Elder conducting in a 1977 production by Otto Schenk.<ref name="Tommasini" /> Fred Cohn from ''Opera News'' noted:{{blockquote|All evening long, it was a revelation to hear the role sung with such security and stamina. Seiffert brought the same freshness of voice to the Rome Narrative at the end as he did to the three successive paeans to Venus at the beginning. The voice is not intrinsically beautiful - it betrays a hint of nasality - but it's an instrument of true Wagnerian heft, with easy access to the crucial climactic notes above the staff.<ref name="Cohn" />}}

Anthony Tommasini from the ''New York Times'' described him as an "imposing and charismatic Tannhäuser" with Wagnerian power but also technically agility.<ref name="Tommasini" /> Seiffert appeared again as Tristan in 2008, in Barenboim's debut at the house.<ref name="Braun" />

=== Bayreuth === Seiffert established a career at the Bayreuth Festival, regularly appearing from 1996 as Stolzing<ref name="Kesting" /> and from 2001 as Lohengrin, which he last performed in 2005 with his wife as Elsa.<ref name="Bayreuth" />

=== Personal life and death === In 1986, Seiffert married the soprano Lucia Popp, 15 years his senior. After her death in 1993, he married the Austrian soprano {{ill|Petra-Maria Schnitzer|de}}.<ref name="Krasting" />

Seiffert died following a long illness in Schleedorf, Salzburg, Austria, on 14 April 2025, at the age of 71.<ref name="Hermann"/><ref name="Die Presse" /><ref name="ORF" />

== Awards == * 1979: Second prize at Deutscher Musikwettbewerb<ref name="a577">{{cite web | title=Preisträger:innen | website=Deutscher Musikwettbewerb | url=https://www.deutscher-musikwettbewerb.de/zuhoeren/alle-dmw-preistraegerinnen/preistraegerinnen | language=de | access-date=16 April 2025 | archive-date=16 January 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116092950/https://www.deutscher-musikwettbewerb.de/zuhoeren/alle-dmw-preistraegerinnen/preistraegerinnen | url-status=live }}</ref> * 1992: Bavarian Kammersänger<ref name="Krasting" /> * 2002: Grammy in the category Best Opera Recording, for Wagner's ''Tannhäuser'' conducted by Daniel Barenboim<ref name="a784">{{cite web | title=Peter Seiffert | website=GRAMMY.com | date=17 October 2024 | url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/peter-seiffert/6282 | access-date=16 April 2025 | archive-date=30 November 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130042322/https://www.grammy.com/artists/peter-seiffert/6282 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Stern" /> * 2013: Austrian Kammersänger<ref name="Schenke" /> * 2014: Berlin Kammersänger<ref name="Welt" />

== Recordings == Recordings with Seiffert include: * Strauss: ''Arabella'', cond. Jeffrey Tate, orchestra of the Royal Opera House, 1986<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /> * Beethoven: ''Fidelio'', cond. Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, 1995<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /> * Weber: ''Oberon'', cond. Marek Janowski, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, 1996<ref name="Parr" /> * Wagner: ''Lohengrin'', cond. Daniel Barenboim, Staatskapelle Berlin, 1998 * Wagner: ''Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg'', cond. Barenboim, orchestra of the Bayreuth Festival, 1999<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /> * Wagner: ''Die Walküre'', cond. Zubin Mehta, Bayerisches Staatsorchester, 2000<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /> * Wagner: ''Der fliegende Holländer'', cond. Giuseppe Sinopoli, orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, 2001 * Wagner: ''Der fliegende Holländer'', cond. Daniel Barenboim, Staatskapelle Berlin, 2002 * Wagner: ''Tannhäuser'', cond: Barenboim, Staatskapelle Berlin, 2002<ref name="Kesting" /><ref name="Levine" /> * Wagner: ''Tannhäuser'' (DVD), cond: Franz Welser-Möst, choir and orchestra of Zürich Opera<ref name="Geffen" /> * Wagner: ''Tristan und Isolde'' (live), cond: Franz Welser-Möst, choir and orchestra of Vienna State Opera (2013)<ref name="Thompson" />

== References == <references>

<ref name="Braun">{{cite magazine | last = Braun | first = William R. | date = February 2009 | title = Tristan und Isolde Review | url = https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0384133 | magazine = Opera News | access-date = 16 April 2025 | archive-date = 9 October 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241009013047/https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0384133 | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name="Cohn">{{cite magazine | last = Cohn | first = Fred | date = February 2005 | title = Tannhäuser Review | url = https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0383143 | magazine = Opera News | access-date = 16 April 2025 | archive-date = 5 October 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241005133559/https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0383143 | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name="Geffen">{{cite web | last = Geffen | first = Dalia | date = 15 April 2025 | title = Peter Seiffert: A Tannhäuser to Be Reckoned With | url = https://www.bostonwagnersociety.org/blog/yc96zwdfmzw7pnb0diugwh28ig4y7q?srsltid=AfmBOop8NQ_pmRYt6oTSM1FE0lvcOGUAkvpj29VepF3XnG9gWbc03FMw | access-date = 16 April 2025 | work = Boston Wagner Society }}</ref>

<ref name="Hermann">{{cite web | last = Herrmann | first = Hubertus | date = 15 April 2025 | title = Zum Tod von Peter Seiffert! | url = https://www.bayreuther-festspiele.de/festspiele/news/2025/zum-tod-von-peter-seiffert/ | access-date = 15 April 2025 | website = Bayreuth Festival | language = de-DE }}</ref>

<ref name="Kesting">{{cite news | last = Kesting | first = Jürgen | date = 16 April 2025 | title = Man steckt den Tristan nicht einfach weg | url = https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/musik-und-buehne/oper/zum-tod-des-tenors-peter-seiffert-110421101.html | language = de-DE | access-date = 16 April 2025 | newspaper = FAZ }}</ref>

<ref name="Krasting">{{cite web | last = Krasting | first = Malte | date = April 2025 | title = Zum Tod von Peter Seiffert | url = https://www.staatsoper.de/en/ueber-uns/nachrufe/peter-seiffert | language = de-DE | access-date = 15 April 2025 | work = Bavarian State Opera }}</ref>

<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens">{{cite book | last1 = Kutsch | first1 = K.-J. | author1-link = Karl-Josef Kutsch | last2 = Riemens | first2 = Leo | author2-link = Leo Riemens | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dsfq_5dFeL0C&pg=4339 | chapter = Seiffert, Peter | title = Großes Sängerlexikon | publisher = De Gruyter | edition = 4th | language = de | year = 2012 | pages = 4339–4340 | isbn = 978-3-59-844088-5 }}</ref>

<ref name="Levine">{{cite web | last = Levine | first = Robert | date = | url = https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-7592/ | title = Tannhauser – Barenboim -Teldec C | work = Classics Today | access-date = 16 April 2025 }}</ref>

<ref name="Parr">{{cite web | last = Parr | first = Mike | date = March 2024 | url = https://musicwebinternational.com/2024/03/weber-oberon-rca/ | title = Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) / Oberon | work = musicweb-international.com | access-date = 16 April 2025 | archive-date = 10 September 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240910121910/https://musicwebinternational.com/2024/03/weber-oberon-rca/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name="Schenke">{{cite web | last = Schenke | first = Johannes | date = 15 April 2025 | title = Wiener Staatsoper: Tristan und Isolde / Hochdramatisches – in lyrischer Schönheit | url = http://www.der-neue-merker.eu/wiener-staatsoper-tristan-und-isolde | access-date = 18 June 2013 | work = Der neue Merker | language = de-DE | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140201101837/http://www.der-neue-merker.eu/wiener-staatsoper-tristan-und-isolde | archive-date = 1 February 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="Thompson">{{cite web | last = Thompson | first = Simon | date = August 2022 | url = https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/Aug/Wagner-Tristan-C210123.htm | title = Richard Wagner (1813-1883) / Tristan und Isolde | work = musicweb-international.com | access-date = 16 April 2025 | archive-date = 31 January 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230131044514/http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/Aug/Wagner-Tristan-C210123.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name="Tommasini">{{cite news | last = Tommasini | first = Anthony | author-link = Anthony Tommasini | date = 20 November 2004 | title = Agility and Wagnerian Power in a Belated Debut | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/20/arts/music/agility-and-wagnerian-power-in-a-belated-debut.html | access-date = 16 April 2025 | newspaper = FAZ | archive-date = 26 January 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210126122925/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/20/arts/music/agility-and-wagnerian-power-in-a-belated-debut.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name="Bayreuth">{{cite web | date = 2025 | title = Peter Seiffert | url = https://www.bayreuther-festspiele.de/fsdb/mitwirkende/peter-seiffert/ | language = de-DE | access-date = 15 April 2025 | work = Bayreuth Festival | archive-date = 9 November 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241109000646/https://www.bayreuther-festspiele.de/fsdb/mitwirkende/peter-seiffert/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name="DOB">{{cite web | date = 2014 | title = Peter Seiffert | url = http://www.deutscheoperberlin.de/en_en/ensemble/peter-seiffert.13549#/ | language = de-DE | access-date = 18 January 2018 | work = Deutsche Oper Berlin | archive-date = 3 February 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140203003216/http://www.deutscheoperberlin.de/en_en/ensemble/peter-seiffert.13549#/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name="DOB obit">{{cite web | date = 15 April 2025 | title = We mourn the loss of our honorary member, Kammersänger Peter Seiffert | url = https://deutscheoperberlin.de/en_EN/home | language = de-DE | access-date = 16 April 2025 | work = Deutsche Oper Berlin | archive-date = 7 December 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241207045117/https://deutscheoperberlin.de/en_EN/home | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name="Munzinger">{{cite encyclopedia | date = 2017 | title = Peter Seiffert | url = https://www.munzinger.de/search/go/document.jsp?id=00000024422 | access-date = 15 April 2025 | encyclopedia = Munzinger Archiv | language = de-DE | archive-date = 30 November 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241130043720/https://munzinger.de/search/go/document.jsp?id=00000024422 | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name="Die Presse">{{cite web | date = 15 April 2025 | title = Deutscher Tenor Peter Seiffert (1954-2025) verstorben | url = https://www.diepresse.com/19583148/deutscher-tenor-peter-seiffert-1954-2025-verstorben | language = de-AU | access-date = 15 April 2025 | newspaper = Die Presse }}</ref>

<ref name="ORF">{{cite web | date = 15 April 2025 | title = Opernsänger Peter Seiffert ist tot | url = https://salzburg.orf.at/stories/3301361/ | access-date = 15 April 2025 | website = ORF | language = de-AU }}</ref>

<ref name="Stern">{{cite magazine | date = 18 January 2014 | title = Klassik-Grammy Nur eine Auszeichnung für deutsche Künstler | url = http://www.stern.de/kultur/musik/klassik-grammy-nur-eine-auszeichnung-fuer-deutsche-kuenstler-504377.html | magazine = Stern | language = de-DE | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202113927/http://www.stern.de/kultur/musik/klassik-grammy-nur-eine-auszeichnung-fuer-deutsche-kuenstler-504377.html | archive-date = 2 February 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="Vienna State Opera">{{cite web | date = 15 April 2025 | title = Peter Seiffert wird als Berliner Kammersänger geehrt | url = https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/magazin/detail/die-wiener-staatsoper-trauert-um-ks-peter-seiffert/ | newspaper = Vienna State Opera | language = de-DE | access-date = 16 April 2025 }}</ref>

<ref name="Welt">{{cite news | date = 15 April 2025 | title = Peter Seiffert wird als Berliner Kammersänger geehrt | url = https://www.welt.de/regionales/berlin/article132178390/Peter-Seiffert-wird-als-Berliner-Kammersaenger-geehrt.html | access-date = 12 September 2014 | newspaper = Die Welt | language = de-DE | archive-date = 12 September 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140912145513/http://www.welt.de/regionales/berlin/article132178390/Peter-Seiffert-wird-als-Berliner-Kammersaenger-geehrt.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

</references>

== External links == * {{IMDb name|0782527}} * {{discogs artist}} * [https://www.staatsoper.de/biographien/seiffert-peter Peter Seiffert] {{in lang|de}} ''Bavarian State Opera''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seiffert, Peter}} Category:1954 births Category:2025 deaths Category:German operatic tenors Category:Musicians from Düsseldorf Category:Österreichischer Kammersänger Category:20th-century German male opera singers Category:21st-century German male opera singers Category:Robert Schumann Hochschule alumni Category:Grammy Award winners