Biography
Victor Symphony Orchestra
Effective period / Period of releases: 1904 - 1947
Members: Nathaniel Shilkret, Francis J. Lapitino, Alfred Lennartz
The orchestra began as the "Victor Orchestra." After 1927, the group was known as the "Victor Symphony Orchestra." This name was used until 1946 when RCA Victor officially became the label name. (The RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1940, effectively taking over for the Victor Orchestra. The names are used interchangeably on reissues.)See also: the Victor Salon Orchestra, Victor Salon Group, Victor Concert Orchestra, Victor Chamber Orchestra and Victor Band.
This eponymous orchestra began as a salon ensemble created by Nathaniel Shilkret, music director of the Victor Talking Machine Co. between 1916 and 1935. It originally recorded lighter music on the company's budget black and blue labels. The orchestra was based in Camden, New Jersey and used players from Leopold Stokowski's orchestra on an ad hoc basis as late as 1940; it also appears that members of The Philadelphia Orchestra (all or in part) were used on at least one occasion (see Victor G-15/RCA Camden CAL-112 and Victor M-934/Camden CAL-170).