RCA Victor Orchestra
The RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, sometimes also known as the Victor Symphony Orchestra, RCA Victor Salon Orchestra, the RCA Victor Orchestra and the RCA Orchestra, was an American studio orchestra founded in 1940 by the RCA Victor record label for the purposes of making recordings. The Victor Talking Machine Company had employed a studio orchestra since the days of acoustical recording early in the 20th century. In the 1920s, Victor established the Victor Salon Orchestra based at the company's headquarters in Camden, New Jersey. This group consisted of musicians primarily from nearby Philadelphia and New York City and was created by longtime Victor staff conductor and arranger Nathaniel Shilkret. The name later was used for free-lance orchestras, mainly in New York City, assembled as needed to make recordings for RCA Victor through the early 1960s. Its players were recruited primarily from the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, the NBC Symphony Orchestra, and other major New York ensembles. The RCA Victor Orchestra recorded with several notable conductors including Leopold Stokowski, Fritz Reiner, Dmitri Mitropoulos, William Steinberg and Leonard Bernstein. A number of their recordings received Grammy Awards. The orchestra was disbanded in the early 1960s when RCA Victor began moving much of its Red Seal recording activity to Europe and established the RCA Italiana Orchestra at its studios in Rome. |
Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1940, Died Ceased 1963
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1951
Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BBVE-80403 | 10-in. | Não tenho lagrimas | Conjuncto Regional RCA Victor ; Patrício Teixeira | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | Musical group | ||
Victor | BBVE-80404 | 10-in. | 5/13/1937 | Sabia larangeira | Conjuncto Regional RCA Victor ; Patrício Teixeira | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BAVE-80503 | 10-in. | 6/30/1937 | Olá seu Nicolau | Carlos Galhardo | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | 80574 | 10-in. | 8/5/1937 | Foste embora (Batucada) | J. B. de Carvalho | Male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-051513 | 10-in. | 6/18/1940 | Hänsel and Gretel | Junior Programs Opera Company ; Saul Lancourt ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Nathaniel Shilkret | Vocal duet (soprano and alto), with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-051514 | 10-in. | 6/18/1940 | Hänsel and Gretel | Junior Programs Opera Company ; Saul Lancourt ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Nathaniel Shilkret | Vocal duet (mezzo-soprano and baritone), with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-051515 | 10-in. | 6/18/1940 | Hänsel and Gretel | Junior Programs Opera Company ; Saul Lancourt ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Nathaniel Shilkret | Vocal duet (mezzo-soprano and baritone), with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-051516 | 10-in. | 6/18/1940 | Hänsel and Gretel | Junior Programs Opera Company ; Saul Lancourt ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Nathaniel Shilkret | Vocal duet (soprano and alto), with orchestra; soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-051517 | 10-in. | 6/18/1940 | Hänsel and Gretel | Junior Programs Opera Company ; Saul Lancourt ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Nathaniel Shilkret | Vocal duet (soprano and alto), with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-051518 | 10-in. | 6/18/1940 | Hänsel and Gretel | Junior Programs Opera Company ; Saul Lancourt ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Nathaniel Shilkret | Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-051519 | 10-in. | 6/18/1940 | Hänsel and Gretel | Junior Programs Opera Company ; Saul Lancourt ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Nathaniel Shilkret | Vocal duet (soprano and alto), with orchestra; mixed vocal chorus, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-051520 | 10-in. | 6/18/1940 | Hänsel and Gretel | Junior Programs Opera Company ; Saul Lancourt ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Nathaniel Shilkret | Vocal trio (soprano, mezzo-soprano, and alto), with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RC-0019 | 12-in. | 1/11/1950 | Panis angelicus | Frank Black ; James Melton ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RC-0020 | 12-in. | 1/11/1950 | Agnus dei | Frank Black ; James Melton ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RC-0021 | 12-in. | 1/11/1950 | Ave Maria | Frank Black ; James Melton ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RC-0022 | 12-in. | 1/12/1950 | The Lord's prayer | Frank Black ; James Melton ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Male vocal tenor solo, with vocal ensemble and orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RC-0023 | 12-in. | 1/12/1950 | The palms | Frank Black ; James Melton ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Male vocal tenor solo, with vocal ensemble and orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RC-0024 | 12-in. | 1/12/1950 | Ave Maria | Frank Black ; James Melton ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Male vocal tenor solo, with vocal ensemble and orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RC-1971 | 12-in. | 12/21/1950 | O mio babbino caro | Licia Albanese ; Renato Cellini ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RC-1972 | 12-in. | 12/21/1950 | Vissi d'arte | Licia Albanese ; Renato Cellini ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RB-4640 | 10-in. | 5/19/1950 | Moonbeams | Frank Black ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Risë Stevens | Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RB-4642 | 10-in. | 5/19/1950 | Toyland | Frank Black ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Risë Stevens | Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RB-4707 | 10-in. | 5/26/1950 | Rose of the world | Frank Black ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Risë Stevens | Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra and vocal chorus | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RB-4708 | 10-in. | 5/26/1950 | Because you're you | Frank Black ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Risë Stevens | Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RB-4709 | 10-in. | 5/26/1950 | Gypsy love song | Frank Black ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Risë Stevens | Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus | Musical group | |
Victor | E0RB-4710 | 10-in. | 5/26/1950 | I can't do the sum | Frank Black ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Risë Stevens | Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with chorus and orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | E1EB-2154 | 10-in. | 6/4/1951 | Cuba | Don Craig ; Eduardo Greco ; Mixed Quartet ; Rinaldo Ruzel | Male vocal duet, with orchestra; mixed vocal quartet, with piano | Musical group | |
Victor | D4RC-0682 | 10-in. | 12/18/1944 | Il balen del suo sorriso | Leonard Warren | Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D4RB-0717 | 10-in. | 12/18/1944 | A little bit of heaven | Maximilian Pilzer ; Leonard Warren | Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D4RB-0718 | 10-in. | 12/18/1944 | When Irish eyes are smiling | Maximilian Pilzer ; Leonard Warren | Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D5RC-1407 | 12-in. | 10/1/1945 | Now heaven in fullest glory shone | Norman Cordon ; Sylvan Levin ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Bass-baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D5RC-1408 | 12-in. | 10/1/1945 | Lord God of Abraham | Norman Cordon ; Sylvan Levin ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Bass-baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D5RC-1413 | 12-in. | 10/3/1945 | How beautiful are the feet | Sylvan Levin ; Dorothy Maynor ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D5RC-1414 | 12-in. | 10/3/1945 | Alleluja | Sylvan Levin ; Dorothy Maynor ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D5RC-1415 | 12-in. | 10/3/1945 | Hear ye, Israel! | Sylvan Levin ; Dorothy Maynor ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D5RC-1418 | 12-in. | 10/5/1945 | Laudamus Te | Joseph Fuchs ; Sylvan Levin ; Dorothy Maynor ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with solo violin and orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D5RC-1419 | 12-in. | 10/5/1945 | Only bleed and break thou loving heart | Sylvan Levin ; Dorothy Maynor ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D5RC-1420 | 12-in. | 10/5/1945 | Et incarnatus est | Sylvan Levin ; Dorothy Maynor ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D5RC-1421 | 12-in. | 10/11/1945 | Give me back my Lord | Norman Cordon ; Joseph Fuchs ; Sylvan Levin ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Bass-baritone vocal solo, with orchestra and violin solo | Musical group | |
Victor | D6RC-5181 | 12-in. | 3/8/1946 | O God, have mercy on me | Norman Cordon ; Sylvan Levin ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Bass-baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D6RC-5182 | 12-in. | 3/8/1946 | It is enough | Norman Cordon ; Sylvan Levin ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Bass-baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D6RC-5183 | 12-in. | 3/8/1946 | Why do the nations | Norman Cordon ; Sylvan Levin ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Bass-baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D7RC-7121 | 12-in. | 1/14/1947 | Mi chiamano Mimì | Dorothy Kirsten ; Jean-Paul Morel ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D7RC-7122 | 12-in. | 1/14/1947 | Addio di Mimì | Dorothy Kirsten ; Jean-Paul Morel ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D7RC-7123 | 12-in. | 1/14/1947 | In quelle trine morbide (In those soft silken curtains) | Dorothy Kirsten ; Jean-Paul Morel ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D7RC-7124 | 12-in. | 1/14/1947 | Mort de Thaïs (Te souvient—il du lumineux voyage) | Dorothy Kirsten ; Robert Merrill ; Jean-Paul Morel ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Vocal duet (soprano and baritone), with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D9RC-1284 | 12-in. | 10/28/1949 | Granada | Mario Lanza ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D9RC-1782 | 12-in. | 5/24/1949 | Phidylé | Erich Leinsdorf ; Dorothy Maynor ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D9RC-1783 | 12-in. | 5/24/1949 | L'invitation au voyage | Erich Leinsdorf ; Dorothy Maynor ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D9RC-1784 | 12-in. | 5/24/1949 | O lovely moon (Air of Russalka) | Erich Leinsdorf ; Dorothy Maynor ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group | |
Victor | D9RC-1785 | 12-in. | 5/24/1949 | Maiden's lament | Erich Leinsdorf ; Dorothy Maynor ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | Musical group |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "RCA Victor Orchestra," accessed October 2, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/116586.
RCA Victor Orchestra. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 2, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/116586.
"RCA Victor Orchestra." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 October 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
Discogs: RCA Victor Orchestra
Allmusic: RCA Victor Orchestra
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: RCA Victor Orchestra - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr94019932
Wikidata: RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q7276066
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/129458552
MusicBrainz: RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/3b3ad270-1e27-4086-9d15-a9fba99009d7
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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