Hermann Abendroth
Born in Ústí nad Labem, Czechoslovakia, Herbig studied conducting at the Franz Liszt Academy in Weimar in 1951 (then in East Germany) with Hermann Abendroth. He later was a student of Hermann Scherchen, Arvids Jansons, and Herbert von Karajan. After completing his studies, he became "Kapellmeister" at the Deutsches Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle Weimar in 1956. He subsequently held operatic posts in Erfurt and Potsdam. From 1972 to 1977, he was chief conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic. He was chief conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 1983. After a dispute with the DDR Politburo, Herbig left the GDR and emigrated to the United States.