Editing NBC Symphony Orchestra (section)

==Symphony of the Air==
After the NBC Symphony Orchestra disbanded, some members went on to play with other orchestras, such as [[Frank Miller (cellist)|Frank Miller]] (principal [[cello]]) and [[Leonard Sharrow]] (principal [[bassoon]]) with the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]]. However, many former NBC Symphony members, in an attempt to stay together and preserve the orchestra, regrouped as a new ensemble called the "Symphony of the Air". They made their first recording on September 21, 1954, and gave their first public concert at the [[United Nations]] 9th Anniversary Celebration on October 24.<ref>McLaughlin, Kathleen, [https://www.nytimes.com/1954/10/25/archives/9th-un-birthday-widely-observed-leaders-attend-celebration-here.html "9th U.N. Birthday Widely Observed"], October 25, 1954, ''[[The New York Times]]'', 1"</ref> On November 14, they appeared on the acclaimed ''[[Omnibus (US TV series)|Omnibus]]'' TV program in which [[Leonard Bernstein]], making his first television appearance, discussed [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s [[Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|Fifth Symphony]], and Bernstein led the Symphony of the Air during its first season. With an Asian tour under the auspices of the State Department and an attendance of 60,000 at concerts in the [[Catskill Mountains|Catskills]] that summer, the first season was a huge success.{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}

In 1957, Symphony of the Air concerts or recordings used 80% or more veteran NBC Symphony musicians. Some 70 of the 75 players having steady "binder contracts" were former NBC players; when more were needed for an engagement, it was reported "the SOA tries whenever possible to obtain ex-NBC musicians on a free-lance basis."<ref>Gelatt, Roland. "Music Makers." High Fidelity, February 1957, 51.</ref>

In 1960, the [[CBS Television]] network also featured the Symphony of the Air in its televised prime-time special ''Spring Festival of Music'' under the direction of the conductor [[Alfredo Antonini]]. In collaboration with the concert pianist [[John Browning (pianist)|John Browning]], producer [[Robert Herridge]] and director [[Roger Englander]], the orchestra presented a virtuoso live presentation of [[Sergei Rachmaninoff]]'s [[Piano Concerto No. 2 (Rachmaninoff)|Second Piano Concerto]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Brian G. Rose|title=Television and the Performing Arts|url=https://archive.org/details/televisionperfor00rose/page/104<!-- quote=John Browning Spring Festival of Music Alfredo Antonini. --> |publisher=Greenwood Press|location=New York|year=1986|page=104|isbn=0-313-24159-7}}</ref>

For nearly a decade, the Symphony of the Air performed many concerts led by [[Leopold Stokowski|Stokowski]], the orchestra's music director from 1955. The orchestra recorded widely (on RCA Victor, Columbia, Vanguard and United Artists) under leading conductors, including Stokowski, [[Leonard Bernstein|Bernstein]], [[Pierre Monteux|Monteux]], [[Fritz Reiner]], [[Bruno Walter]], [[Kirill Kondrashin]], Sir [[Thomas Beecham]], [[Alfred Wallenstein]] and [[Josef Krips]]. Only once more did they use their old name, the NBC Symphony Orchestra, in the 1963 telecast of [[Gian Carlo Menotti]]'s written-for-television opera, ''[[Amahl and the Night Visitors]]'', with an all-new cast.<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q129677477|id=tt0224607|title=Amahl and the Night Visitors|description=(TV movie, 1963)}}</ref> The orchestra disbanded in 1963.