»Peter Seiffert is a wonderful singer of huge calibre and stature. Words like ‘titan’ and ‘idol’ come to mind. Getting to meet him is a big thing because you’re dealing with a veritable star of classical culture but also a witty, uncomplicated, approachable mate. Before we sang together in LOHENGRIN at the Deutsche Oper Berlin we often ran into each other in some theatre canteen or other, and from him it was always like »Hey, it’d be cool if we sang together onstage sometime!« Seiffert is always on a wavelength with the younger generation of singers. He stays in the loop and is open to new ideas from people. You don’t get an impression of aloofness about him. You often see him deep in some involved discussion with someone, a conductor or a wardrobe person, a musician or technician - he makes no distinction. He’s on equal terms with everyone. His utterly natural and inimitable way of comporting himself in our profession… you get the feeling that that can only be second nature to someone like him who grew up surrounded by artists. Way back when I was a kid I noticed how smooth his singing and acting was. I saw him singing Tamino and other roles in the Deutsche Oper Berlin. He had this amazing tenor voice that shone and radiated and effortlessly filled the auditorium and yet to me he seemed so laid-back. My parents had season tickets to the DOB, like all our friends did back in the day, and they used to say »Kids, we’re in luck again, Seiffert’s singing!« Children are totally honest in their judgements and are not encumbered by expert knowledge – and I revered him then as I do today.

We eventually coincided onstage in LOHENGRIN in 2016. It was a bit unreal for me, and a huge honour. I’d seen Peter singing in Götz Friedrich’s legendary production of LOHENGRIN when I was at school, and there I was next to him onstage singing the role of Elsa. Up close, I could see what was so special about him. He has this unmistakeable quality to his voice, that special tenor vibrancy. He has a perfectly balanced musicality that is instinctual and lends itself to phrasing and interpretation, and a razor-sharp feel for what’s going on onstage. I’m inclined to say he’s like a fish in water when he’s onstage. He’s in his element. And the audience feels it and loves him for it and stays loyal. And his magnanimous character and comradely personality really endears him to people. Long live Peter Seiffert!«

Annette Dasch is renowned the world over as a singer of concerts, lieder and opera. Born in Berlin in 1976, she has won prizes and presented a music/chat show on ZDF/3sat