Peter Hirsch studied in Cologne. Following his studies, he became Michael Gielen’s assistant at the opera in Frankfurt on Main, where from 1984 till 1987 he was Principal Assistant Conductor. In 1985 he made his debut at Milan’s La Scala with Nono’s "Prometeo". The following year he conducted the premières of both Hans Zender’s "Stephen Climax" and Nono’s "Risonanze Erranti". Hirsch has since conducted numerous opera productions, for example at the English and Welsh National Operas, the Netherlands Opera, and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin. He has frequently been a guest conductor in the United States, Holland, and Belgium. He works regularly with the German Symphony Orchestra Berlin [DSO], the Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin, the Southwest German Radio Symphony [SWR], the Radio Symphony Orchestra Frankfurt, as well as with ensemble recherche, Klangforum Wien in Vienna, Ensemble Contrechamps in Geneva, and the Collegium Novum in Zurich. He has recorded works by Franz Schubert, Anton Bruckner, Gustav Mahler, Arnold Schönberg, Bernd Alois Zimmermann, and Luigi Nono. Hirsch has premièred works by numerous composers, such as Bernd Alois Zimmermann, Luigi Nono, Helmut Lachenmann, Hans Zender, and Georg Friedrich Haas.