Dessoff, (Felix) Otto

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Dessoff, (Felix) Otto

Dessoff, (Felix) Otto, eminent German conductor; b. Leipzig, Jan. 14,1835; d. Frankfurt am Main, Oct. 28,1892. He studied at the Leipzig Cons, with Moscheles, Hauptmann, and Rietz, and then was a theater conductor in various German cities (1854–60). From 1860 to 1875 he was a conductor of the Vienna Court opéra. He also conducted the Vienna Phil., and taught at the Vienna Cons. From 1875 to 1881 he occupied similar posts at Karlsruhe. In 1881 he became conductor in Frankfurt am Main. He was greatly esteemed by his many celebrated friends for his musicianship. His correspondence with Brahms was publ. by the Brahms Soc. He also wrote chamber music.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire