There was a time when broadcast networks needed their own orchestras.
The first performance of the NBC Symphony Orchestra took place, on NBC radio of course, 77 years ago today.
The orchestra became famous largely due to its conductor, Arturo Toscanini.
What better way to learn about an orchestra than to hear it. Here is a recording from one of the orchestra’s last performances.
Rossini: The Barber of Seville: Overture
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor Op.74 “Pathétique”
Carnegie Hall, New York City
March 21st 1954
The following excerpt comes from an essay posted by the Library of Congress called, “Adagio for Strings”– Arturo Toscanini, conductor; NBC Symphony (November 5, 1938).
“Even amongst this prestigious lot, ‘NBC Symphony’ held a major cachet, if only due to the presence of Toscanini, the then living symbol and embodiment of classical music in America, a position solidified by his 1939 appearance on the cover of ‘Life’ magazine.
Toscanini was brought (and bought) out of his quiet Italian retirement in 1937 thanks to the largess of Sarnoff who coaxed the conductor back to the podium for 10 live broadcasts at a salary of $40,000 tax-free, American dollars. Along with his salary, Toscanini was also promised his choice of repertoire, no commercial interruptions and the best musicians money could buy. As author Thomas A. DeLong has noted, ‘never before or since has a radio network or corporate entity created an orchestra of this caliber or size.’
With Arthur Rodzinski hired as assistant conductor and NBC’s Studio 8-H (now the home of TV’s “Saturday Night Live”) in Rockefeller Center outfitted for the endeavor, ‘NBC Symphony’ debuted on November 13, 1937.”
And here is the NBC Symphony Orchestra performing, “Adagio for Strings,” the piece described in the Library of Congress essay.
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