He was an orchestral conductor and teacher born in Dresden, Germany, who studied conducting and composition at the Dresden Conservatory.
From 1946 to 1949 he was a conductor in Pirna and Rostock. He was a choirmaster, music director and principal conductor of the Leipzig Radio Orchestra and Choir from 1948 and was associated with them from 1979, and from 1960 he was the Principal Conductor of the Leipzig Symphony Orchestra and Choir. He won acclaim for his recording of Carl Orff’s Carmina Buranaand he championed Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem.
He led the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra from 1977 to 1985, after which he guest conducted with orchestras including the Leipzig Opera, Tokyo’s NHK Orchestra and the Staatsoper Berlin.
As a teacher he was a Professor at the Mendelssohn Bartholdy Hichschule fur Musik in Leipzigand gave a Dresden masterclass.
His career was cut short when he committed suicide in 1990 at the age of 70.
He was married to Celestina Casapietra, an Italian soprano, and their son Bjorn Casapietra is an actor and singer.
Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra recordings
Adagio in G (Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni)
Laserlight 15 688 (CD: Meditation – Classical Relaxation, Vol. 3)
Conductor – Herbert Kegel
Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Kegel
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/herbert-kegel-mn0000026253/biography
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/425125-Herbert-Kegel