Peter Breiner

Peter Breiner (born July 3, 1957 in Humenné, in former Czechoslovakia, present day Slovakia) is a Slovak pianist, conductor, and composer.

Breiner began to play and study the piano at age four. At age nine, he started to study at the Conservatory in Košice, Slovakia (where he studied piano, percussion, composition and conducting). He subsequently moved to Bratislava, Slovakia where he attended the Academy of Performing Arts continuing his composition studies under the tuition of Alexander Moyzes; he was graduated from the Academy in 1982.

Breiner has recorded over 150 albums as conductor or pianist. He is well known for his arrangements, such as Baroque versions of the Beatles and a similar adaptation of Elvis Presley, as well as arrangements of popular Christmas music. His 2004 release of all the national anthems of the world was used by the Athens Olympic Committee as the music for medal ceremonies at the Games.^[1]

His triple CD "Janacek Operatic Suites", released on Naxos label, was one of the Top Ten Classical CDs of 2009, according to the Chicago Tribune.^[2]

Breiner also has a career as a television personality. In early 2000 his talk show on STV (Slovenská televízia), called "Do You Have Something Against That?", was temporarily banned,^[3] accused of being exceedingly controversial. In fact, that episode made quite a stir in Slovak TV and Radio media.

Breiner lived in Toronto, Canada from March 1992 to June 2007. Since July 2007 he has been residing in New York, United States.

Peter Breiner is a passionate soccer player (left wing).

See also

• The 100 Greatest Slovak Albums of All Time

References

External links

• Peter Breiner at the Internet Movie Database
• Official web site
• Instant Encore page with recordings, concert dates, bios and links
• 'A Little Collection' of Peter Breiner pictures
• NAXOS music publisher's website
• Biography at osobnosti.sk website (Slovak)