Peter Schreier was born in Meissen, Germany, as the son of a Kantor and teacher. In 1963 he was signed up by the Deutsche Staatsoper in Berlin and in 1969 by the Vienna Staatsoper. From the very start of his career, he has made a reputation for himself as a Mozart tenor. He himself considers the Mozart roles to be at the very heart of his work—which does not, however, prevent him from singing a large number of other roles. As a former member of the Kreuzchor and as a result of his Saxon Protestant Kantor background, the works of Bach are a major focus of his repertoire.

An extensive discography bears witness to the fact that Peter Schreier has for decades been considered a highly sensitive interpreter of Lieder. Between 1990 and 1991 he recorded the three great Schubert Lieder cycles with the pianist Andras Schiff for Decca, which they have also performed at London's Wigmore Hall and at the Hohenems Schubertiade.

Peter Schreier's services have been honoured with a wide range of distinctions including being appointed an Honorary member of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna in 1986. He has been a Member of the Academy of Munich and Berlin since 1989. In 1988 Munich honoured him with the Ernst von Siemens Prize which has also been awarded to Leonard Bernstein, Wolfgang Sawallisch and Claudio Abbado.