Ferdinand Leitner

Ferdinand Leitner was a German conductor and composer. He was born in 1874 in Nuremberg and studied composition in Munich before becoming the conductor of the Kroll Opera House in Berlin in 1920. He was a prominent figure in the musical life of Germany during the 1920s and 1930s, and became the General Music Director of the Berlin State Opera in 1929.

Leitner was known for his interpretations of Wagner and other German composers, and was particularly noted for his performances of Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Strauss. He also conducted works by other composers, including works by Debussy, Schubert, Beethoven, and Mahler. His most famous recordings include Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Wagner's Parsifal, and Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem.

Leitner was also an active composer, writing works for orchestra, choir, and chamber ensemble. His most notable works include the cantata "Der Tag des Herrn" (The Day of the Lord), the oratorio "Gotteskinder" (God's Children), and the operetta "Der Gute Kamerad" (The Good Comrade).

An interesting fact about Ferdinand Leitner is that he was a close friend of the conductor and composer Richard Strauss, and often conducted Strauss' works. He also conducted the world premiere of Strauss' opera "Die Frau ohne Schatten" (The Woman without a Shadow) in 1919.