Biography
Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra
This profile is only for recordings between 1925-1958.
For later recordings, use Chicago Philharmonic.
In 1925, the Chicago radio station WGN stated broadcasting their radio orchestra. Chicago Philharmonic was basically the house orchestra of the radio station WGN.
Henry Weber was musical director of WGN from 1934 to 1958, conducting the orchestra.
They played live concerts with guest conductors David Rubinoff in 1936, and Richard Czerwonky in 1937.
One of their violinists were Orvin A. Sale.
Some lathe cut/lacquer discs exist of Leo Sowerby: Symphony No 3/Weber/Chicago PO, from a 1946 performance. That recording is incomplete because the radio station broadcasting the program live cut-off the broadcast on the hour, a few minutes before the symphony concluded. Leo, presumably, paid a recording service to record it off the air.
Silvertone Record Club released recordings produced by Mercury Records, on mostly red vinylite pressings. These discs were released to "subscribers" of the Sears catalog in early spring/summer 1947. Note that orchestras appears under several aliases and name variants, presumably due to rights issues, sometimes paired with conductor Erich Leinsdorf.
Around 1951, Mercury released a couple of compilation LPs from the Silvertone releases.
The orchestra closed down 1956.
The Silvertone tracks were compiled and reissued again on Paramount Enterprises' "Hollywood" bargain LP label between 1956 and '58.
For later recordings, use Chicago Philharmonic.
In 1925, the Chicago radio station WGN stated broadcasting their radio orchestra. Chicago Philharmonic was basically the house orchestra of the radio station WGN.
Henry Weber was musical director of WGN from 1934 to 1958, conducting the orchestra.
They played live concerts with guest conductors David Rubinoff in 1936, and Richard Czerwonky in 1937.
One of their violinists were Orvin A. Sale.
Some lathe cut/lacquer discs exist of Leo Sowerby: Symphony No 3/Weber/Chicago PO, from a 1946 performance. That recording is incomplete because the radio station broadcasting the program live cut-off the broadcast on the hour, a few minutes before the symphony concluded. Leo, presumably, paid a recording service to record it off the air.
Silvertone Record Club released recordings produced by Mercury Records, on mostly red vinylite pressings. These discs were released to "subscribers" of the Sears catalog in early spring/summer 1947. Note that orchestras appears under several aliases and name variants, presumably due to rights issues, sometimes paired with conductor Erich Leinsdorf.
Around 1951, Mercury released a couple of compilation LPs from the Silvertone releases.
The orchestra closed down 1956.
The Silvertone tracks were compiled and reissued again on Paramount Enterprises' "Hollywood" bargain LP label between 1956 and '58.