German conductor Ferdinand Leitner (1912-1996) attended the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. At the age of 16 he began to conduct. Generalmusikdirektor of the Württemberg Staatstheater, where he was jointly responsible for two decades of the company's development. In 1969 he moved as musical director to the opera house in Zürich. Concert tours and opera guest appearances took Leitner all over the world. He conducted about 70 complete performances of Wagner's 'Ring'.