Raimund Kull
EstoniaEarly Life and Education
Gustav KULL was born in Estonia and graduated from the music school in Narva. He played in the wind orchestra of the Vladimir Regiment in Saint Petersburg and the municipal theater in Narva. In 1906, he graduated with honors from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in trombone under Franz Turner and horn under Jan Tamm.
Career as Conductor
In 1903, KULL made his debut as a conductor with musicians from the Estonian school in Petersburg. From 1909 to 1912, he worked as a conductor in Kazan and Baku.
From 1912 to 1920, KULL was the principal conductor of the "Estonia" opera house in Tallinn. In later years, he returned as a conductor and briefly served as the music director. Notable productions under his leadership included Verdi's "La traviata" and Donizetti's "La fille du régiment" (both in 1916) and Weber's "Der Freischütz" (1920).
From 1918 to 1927, KULL led the orchestra of the Estonian Navy, touring with them to Riga, Budapest, and Warsaw. From 1934 to 1939, he was the permanent conductor of the Estonian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Teaching and Compositions
From 1929, KULL taught trombone at the Tallinn Conservatory. He composed several works for wind ensembles and orchestras. Notably, he wrote an overture to the folk opera "Kratt" and an orchestral suite based on Estonian folk tunes.
