The great tenor Peter Schreier has died.

Schreier was born in Saxony in 1935. Though he continued to live in East Germany under Communist rule, he yet managed to achieve international success. He was especially praised for his lieder singing, though was also lauded for his work in some of the world’s great opera houses, where he appeared in works from Mozart to Wagner. Reportedly, Hans Pfitzner’s “Palestrina” was a particular favorite.

Schreier died on Christmas Day, a notable coincidence, considering he sang so much Christmas music throughout his career, beginning as a boy chorister in the Dresden Kreuzchor. When his voice broke at the age of 16, he continued to pursue his dream of becoming a tenor. He was especially desirous to tackle the Evangelist roles in the oratorios of Johann Sebastian Bach. At the time of his death, Schreier – who had also become a noted conductor – was 84 years-old.

We’ll remember him this afternoon on The Classical Network, by way of some of his recordings, alongside those of pianist Abbey Simon and chorus master Laszlo Heltay, both of whom we also lost within the past week. In addition, we’ll celebrate musical humorist Anna Russell and pianist, composer, and mordant wit Oscar Levant, on the anniversary of their births.

At 6:00, it’s another “Picture Perfect,” music for the movies. This week, with the turn of the year only days away, the theme is change and the passage of time.

Of course, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The parade of musical artistry continues, from 4 to 7 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

Schreier sings Peter Cornelius’ Christmas song, “The Kings,” from his Kreuzchor days:

Schreier sings Schubert’s “Ständchen” (Serenade):

Schreier conducts Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio”: