NBC Symphony Orchestra
The NBC Symphony Orchestra was one of the world's fabled orchestras. David Sarnoff, chairman of RCA which owned both RCAVictor Records and NBC radio -- offered conductor Arturo Toscanini a specially-built orchestra of the highest standards.
Offering the highest salaries of any orchestra and a 52-week contract, NBC attracted top orchestral musicians: 21 of them were former section leaders of other orchestras. Artur Rodzinski molded them into a precision ensemble and Rodzinski led its first concerts. The orchestra took the air under Toscanini on Christmas day, 1937.
It was immediately ranked as one of the world's great orchestras, famous for its precise, lean sound, even though the players had to do routine radio work in addition to symphony concerts. For 17 years it was conducted by many leading world-class conductors; Leopold Stokowski was its co-conductor from 1941 to 1944. It made numerous classic recordings for RCA, sometimes recording as the "RCA Victor Symphony," including the famous recording of Richard Rodgers' Victory at Sea.
The orchestra had many distinguished alumni: violist William Primrose; violinist Josef Gingold; cellists Naoum Benditzky (of the Gordon Quartet) and Alan Shulman (Stuyvesant Quartet); and future conductors Milton Katims and Frank Brieff, to name just a few. Soloists who recorded with the orchestra included Marian Anderson, Vladimir Horowitz, Jascha Heifetz, and Artur Rubinstein. Some of these recordings, and a few complete opera recordings, were conducted by Fritz Reiner.
Toscanini retired after his April 4, 1954, concert. NBC laid the orchestra off, but it refused to die. Most of its members (with a few new players) reassembled as the Symphony of the Air, which went on to its own distinguished, if brief, renown.
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Beethoven: Symphony NO. 2, OP. 36 - Symphony NO. 4, OP. 60 (Live)
Symphonic Music - Released by Altair on May 12, 2022
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Beethoven: Sinfonia n. 2 - Sinfonia n. 4
Arturo Toscanini, NBC Symphony Orchestra
Symphonic Music - Released by Infinity on Nov 6, 2020
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Rossini, Tchaikovsky & Wagner: The Barber of Seville - Symphony NO. 6 - Lohengrin, Act I - Götterdämmerung - Dawn and Siegfried’s Rhine Journey
Symphonic Music - Released by Altair on Apr 5, 2022
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Dvořák: Symphony NO. 9, OP. 95
Symphonic Music - Released by Altair on Apr 4, 2022
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Toscanini, Brahms-Beethoven
BBC Symphony Orchestra, NBC Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Horowitz
Classical - Released by Iswjdigital on Jun 9, 2015
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Rossini & Tchaikovsky: The Siege of Corinth, Overture - Symphony No. 6, 'Pathétique'
Guido Cantelli, NBC Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Infinity on Aug 30, 2021
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Brahms: Symphonies 1-4, Academic Festival Overtur
Bruno Walter, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, NBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra
Symphonic Music - Released by Infinity on Jun 30, 2020
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Gilbert, Kennen, Griffes & Grofé: Comedy Overture on Negro Themes - Night Soliloquy - The White Peacock - Grand Canyon Suite
Arturo Toscanini, NBC Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Infinity on Dec 16, 2021
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Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Symphony NO. 3, OP. 55
Symphonic Music - Released by Altair on May 17, 2023
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Tchaikovsky & Shulman
Symphonic Music - Released by Altair on May 5, 2023
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The Best Music of Berg, Bériot & Berlioz
George Falkenstein, Maud Powell, Dimitris Mitropoulos, NBC Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by ArnebAudio on Jan 9, 2024
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Schumann & Tchaikovsky: Manfred Overture, OP. 115 - Manfred, OP. 58
Symphonic Music - Released by Altair on Mar 21, 2022
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Rossini & Tchaikovsky: La Cenerentola - Symphony NO. 4, OP. 36
Classical - Released by Altair on Jul 2, 2022
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Beethoven: Symphony NO. 5, OP. 67
Symphonic Music - Released by Altair on May 8, 2022
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Stravinsky & Beethoven: Le Chant Du Rossignol - Symphony NO. 5, OP. 67
Symphonic Music - Released by Altair on Apr 10, 2022
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Bizet & Gershwin: La Jolie Fille de Perth - L'Arlésienne - Carmen - An American in Paris
Arturo Toscanini, NBC Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Infinity on May 23, 2021
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J. S. Bach, Cherubini & R. Strauss: Christmas Oratorio, Bwv 248 - Symphony, ParC 54 - Tod und Verklärung, OP. 24
Classical - Released by Altair on Sep 7, 2022
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Rossini & Tchaikovsky: Overture to the Siege of Corinth - Symphony NO. 6 (Live)
Symphonic Music - Released by Altair on May 6, 2022
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Brahms: Symphony NO. 2, OP. 73
Symphonic Music - Released by Altair on Apr 26, 2022
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Prokofiev, Debussy, Saint-Saëns & R. Strauss: Symphony NO. 1 - Images - Danse Macabre - Don Juan
Symphonic Music - Released by Altair on May 26, 2022
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Mendelssohn, Schubert, Barber, Verdi: Overture to a Midsummer Night’s Dream - Symphony NO. 8 - Essay for Orchestra NO. 1 - Overture to I Vespri Siciliani
Classical - Released by Altair on Mar 9, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo