Peter Breiner (b1957)

More recently, the world première recording for Naxos of his own arrangements of Janáček’s Six Operatic Suites with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and himself conducting earned tremendous 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 Jenůfa”.

Breiner’s compositions and arrangements have been played in concerts worldwide. Films that include his musical scores have enjoyed very wide international exposure (such as Anne of Green Gables, Timothy Findley’s Piano Man’s Daughter, produced by Whoopi Goldberg, and The Magic Flute ) and his music has been featured many times on the most popular TV shows ( including CBC television show Wind at My Back and Seasons of Love)

Breiner began to study piano in his early childhood in 1961 and his exceptional artistry led to his early acceptance at the Conservatory in Košice in 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 Professor Alexander Moyzes, one of the most significant figures in modern Slovak music. Peter Breiner lived in Toronto, Canada since 1992 till 2007 when he moved to New York.

He is proficient in seven languages. He has hosted various TV and radio programs about music, in 1993, was a co-host and music director of the most popular TV talk show in Slovakia, attracting over 2 million viewers, has his own column in one of Slovakia’s most influential weekly newspapers, and published his first book “Maple Leaves” in April 1998.