Otto Benedikt Hermann

December 13, 1878 Tartu – October 17, 1933 Tallinn

Conductor and composer Otto Hermann was a first music director of Theatre "Estonia", founder of the Estonian first symphony orchestra and the first Estonian who brought symphonic music to concert halls in Tallinn.

Otto Hermann studied organ with organist of Tallinn Dome Church Ernst Reinicke, music theory and piano under Konstantin Türnpu, he also attended St. Peterburg Conservatory’s organ class of Louis Homilius (1898–1900). He thereafter worked as a piano teacher and piano/organ accompanist in Tallinn, performed together with singers like Aino Tamm, Paula Brehm-Jürgenson, Marie Mieler, Ella Masing-Grünberg and others.

From 1906 to 1908, Hermann was the first music director of Theatre "Estonia". He laid the foundation for regular symphonic concerts in Tallinn by creating a 45-member symphony orchestra out of 16-member theatre orchestra that gave concerts in different venues in Tallinn.

He devoted the latest period of his life to composing. Otto Hermann has written a mythological opera "Ilo", orchestral music, choral and solo songs.

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