Interview: Peter Sommerer
The conductor with a passion for fencing.
A PASSION THING is a magazine dedicated to telling the stories of people from around the world who are driven by the wonderful force we call passion. We’re excited to take these conversations beyond the page and into the digital world, with Substack as our new home.
This interview appears in A PASSION THING Issue No. 11
Peter Sommerer is one of the interviewees recommended to us through our network and community. When we first reached out, his enthusiasm was immediately evident. He graciously provided images and materials, making the entire process seamless and enjoyable. As we discussed how to best capture his essence, it became clear that the focus should be on his great passions beyond music—fencing. This activity, with its demand for precision and dedication, mirrors Peter’s approach to conducting. So, we photographed him engaging in both–fencing and conducting, showcasing the energy and discipline that define him both on and off the podium.
Peter Sommerer’s path to becoming an internationally recognized conductor began in the small Austrian town of Christkindl near Steyr, where he was born into a musically-inclined family. Both of his parents studied singing, and music was ever-present in their household. “I originally started with the violin,” he recalls. His siblings also played—his sister took up the violin, while his brother began with the cello before shifting his focus to music production and pop.
