Otmar Suitner

Otmar Suitner (German pronunciation: [ˈɔtmaʁ zuˈiːtnɐ];[1] 16 May 1922 – 8 January 2010) was an Austrian conductor who spent most of his professional career in East Germany.

A fairly prolific recording artist, he was particularly notable in Austro-German music, having conducted discs of works by Max Reger and Paul Hindemith as well as the first Beethoven symphony cycle to be released on compact disc.

From 1977 to 1990 Suitner was professor of conducting at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

Among his prize students was American conductor Donald Covert, who received the "Swarovsky Conducting Diploma" in 1984.

He was awarded the National Prize of the German Democratic Republic, 2nd Class for art and literature, in 1963.