Legendary Wagner-Tenor Peter Seiffert died at the age of 71

Legendary Wagner-Tenor Peter Seiffert died at the age of 71

Schleedorf, Österreich - Peter Seiffert, the celebrated Wagner-Tenor, died on April 15, 2025 at the age of 71 after a long illness. The death of the singer was confirmed by the Bayreuth Festival and his artist agency Hilbert. Seiffert died in Schleedorf in Flachgau and leaves a significant gap in the world of classical music. His musical heritage is valued and recognized throughout the opera world. 5min.at reports that the son of the opera singer Helmut Seiffert was married in second marriage to the Austrian soprano Petra-Maria Schnitzer.

Seiffert's musical career began in his childhood, shaped by the parents' house. After training, he made his debut in 1978 at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf-Duisburg. He became an ensemble member of the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1980 and thus received the necessary foundation for his international career. Seiffert performed in important houses such as the Bavarian State Opera in Munich and the London Royal Opera House Covent Garden.

a life for the Wagner opera

particularly highlighted is his commitment to the Bayreuth Festival, where he appeared in important roles such as Walther von Stolzing and Lohengrin from 1996 to 2005. The importance of Seiffert's interpretations in Richard Wagner's repertoire is undisputed and he was highly valued for his profound representations. BR-Klassik recalls that he also had important appearances at the Bregenzer and the Salzburg festival.

Seiffert's debut at the Vienna State Opera in 1984 marked another highlight of his career, and in the following decades he performed in a total of 102 performances. He gave his last performance in Vienna in 2018 as Florestan in Ludwig van Beethoven's "Fidelio". The performances in the Vienna State Opera and his appearance at the Bayreuth Festival brought him the title of the Austrian chamber singer.

memories and worthwhile

Seiffert was known for his stage presence and emotional depth, which made him one of the most important tenors of his generation. He described himself as a "Rheinische Frohnatur", which helped him deal with the demanding Wagner music. for which he was recognized in 1999 with the "Echo classic" as the "singer of the year". Bavaria's Minister of Art Markus Blume recognized Seiffert and emphasized its importance for the history of the opera.

The city of Bayreuth, known for the Richard Wagner Festival, which takes place every year from July 25th to August 28th, has also become popular with artists such as Seiffert. The Festspielhaus, founded in 1872, attracts a diverse international audience. bayreuth tourism informs about the high demand for tickets and the limited availability that surrounds the special performances of the festival.

Seiffert's death will not only be painfully noticeable in the opera world, but also with its numerous followers, and his profound interpretations will continue to remain alive in memory of music lovers.