INTRODUCTION

Peter Berger is an impressive lyric spinto tenor with nice core of sound, a prolific expert in Slavic, Russian and French repertoires.

RECENT AND FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS

Recent and future highlights include (a.o.):

  • the title role in Dalibor at the Welsh National Opera, and ND Brno (a new production, directed by David Pountney);
  • Laca/Jenůfa at Welsh National Opera and at Teatro de la Maestranza de Sevilla;
  • Prince/Rusalka at the National Theatre Prague, ND Brno, and at the Slovak National Theatre;
  • Laca/Jenůfa, Pinkerton/Madama Butterfly, Mario Cavaradossi/ToscaAlfredo Germont/La traviata and Jeník/The Bartered Bride at the National Theatre Prague;
  • Turiddu/Cavalleria rusticana at the State Opera Prague;
  • Pinkerton/Madama Butterfly, Don José/Carmen, Rodolfo/La bohème, Jeník/The Bartered Bride, Laca/Jenůfa, Manolios/The Greek Passion, Skuratov/From the House of the Dead, Ismaele/Nabucco and Lensky/Onegin at ND Brno.

BIOGRAPHY

Peter Berger was born in Slovakia and studied singing at The Košice Conservatorium of Music with Mgr. Juraj Šomorjai. While still a student, he appeared as a soloist at the Košice State Theatre. He has taken part in Vocal Masterclasses with many renowned teachers, including Peter Dvorský, Eva Blahová, and Ryszard Karczykowski.

Past engagements in recent years include Prince/Rusalka at Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, Don José/Carmen at Teatro Regio di Torino; Werther and Manru at Teatr Wielki in Warsaw; Boris/Katya Kabanova with Maestro Hrusa and Czech Philharmonics in Prague and Hamburg; Laca Klemeň/Jenůfa at ND Brno, Prince/Rusalka at State Opera Banská Bystrica, Alfredo Germont/La traviata at National Moravian-Silesian Theatre as well as among others Pinkerton/Madama Butterfly, Mario Cavaradossi/Tosca and Rodolfo/La bohème at National Theatre Prague.

Other past engagements include Alfredo Germont/La traviata at Slovak National Theatre, Michel/Juliette at National Theatre Prague, Laca/Jenůfa at Scottish National Opera, Danish National Opera and in Santiago, Prince/Rusalka in Santiago and Tokyo; performing Janacek’s Glagolitic Mass and Dvorak’s Te Deum under Jaroslav Kyzlink with the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and singing Boris/Katja Kabanova with the Danish National Opera, Prince/Rusalka in Rome and Beijing, Svanda at Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Laca/Jenůfa and Te Deum at Teatro Massimo di Palermo and Don Jose/Carmen in Santiago.

In addition to his operatic work, Peter Berger is a prolific concert artist and has sung with the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the State Philharmonic Košice, Prague Philharmonia, Brno Philharmonic, Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Czech Virtuosi. He has performed in many domestic and foreign concerts as well as being a permanent guest at the festival Viva il Canto in Czeszyn, Poland, and at the international festival in Sopron, Hungary. His concert repertoire includes the Glagolitic Mass, Puccini’s Messa Di Gloria, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, the Mozart Requiem and Masses as well as Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. He sang in a Gala concert with Jelena Obraztsova and Peter Dvorský, and concert performances have also taken him to Japan, Malta, and Riga.

AWARDS

In 2006 he was awarded 1st prize at The Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský International Vocal Competition in Trnava (SK) and also won a special prize for the best interpretation of Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský songs. In 2007 he was awarded 1st prize at the Anglo Czecho-Slovak Trust competition in London, and in 2008 he was a semi-finalist at International Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition in Vienna. He was also awarded The Slovak Literary fund prize for the role of the Prince in Rusalka.

AUDIO & VIDEO

Peter Berger – Rusalka by A. Dvořák – Prince’s Aria (Národní divadlo) – Apr. 2023

Peter Berger – Manru by I.J. Paderewski (Polish National Opera, Warsaw) – 2019

Peter Berger – Werther by J. Massenet – O Nature

Peter Berger – Manru by I.J. Paderewski (Polish National Opera, Warsaw) – 2019

Peter Berger – Werther by J. Massenet – Pourquoi me réveiller

REVIEWS

Jenufa by L. Janacek, Teatro Massimo di Palermo – 2016

“Peter Berger è un Laca dal solido registro acuto, squillante, dotato di un’ottima proiezione e capace di intensi ripiegamenti dolorosi oltre che attore convinto e convincente come il suo rivale Števa…”
– Caterina De Simone, Operaclick

Jenufa by L. Janacek, Teatro Massimo di Palermo – 2016

“Complimenti al bel tenore slovacco Peter Berger: sempre dentro nel positivo ruolo di Laca; della sua emarginazione “parentale”, se così si vuol dire, ha fatto piena virtù; il suo amore per Jenufa è vero; il suo percorso di sofferenza viene trasformato in perenne atto d’amore per quella donna che pure ferisce al viso (quanto involontariamente?): la ferita non rende brutta Jenufa, ma dà un ulteriore alibi a Steva per rifiutarla insieme al figlio che la Sacrestana saprà rimandare al cospetto del suo Dio; Peter Berger ha modulato la sua voce sempre nel rispetto della “melodia del canto e del parlato” così come l’ha concepita il compositore: un Laca perfetto! Impeccabile vocalmente e avvincente e convincente in tutti e tre gli atti. Come non mettere in evidenza la sua forza espressiva quando, nel Terzo Atto, minaccia la folla che voleva linciare Jen?fa (“Che nessuno si azzardi a toccarla! Vi potrebbe costare la vita!”)?”
– Giuseppe di Salvo, 30 Oct 2016

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