Concert recordings collection, 1947-1957.

Links

• View catalog record
• View finding aid

Creator

Little Orchestra Society.

Location

Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound

Extent

• 740 sound discs.
• 567 sound discs : analog, 78 rpm ; 12 in.
• 74 sound discs : analog, 33 1/3 rpm ; 12 in.
• 99 sound discs : analog, 33 1/3 rpm ; 16 in.

Access Restrictions

Access to discs restricted; advance notification required.

Scope/Contents Note

The collection consists of concert recordings, made for Mr. Scherman, from late 1947 to late 1957.

Biographical/Historical Notes

Thomas Scherman founded the Little Orchestra Society for the 1947/48 season with the aim of performing contemporaryorchestral and operatic works, including many works specially commissioned for the society. The society consisted of a reduced orchestra that was large enough to reproduce major works, but small enough that it afforded amore chamber-like atmosphere. They regularly attracted famous soloists to augment the orchestra, and they emphasized 'authentic performances' - that is, performances which followed original instrumentation and original playing practices. Most of the Little Orchestra Society concerts took place in the Town Hall concert hall in New York City.

The Little Orchestra Society featured a number of famousperformers in solo pieces. Some of these soloists were: Marian Anderson, Claudio Arrau, Erna Berger, Benjamin Britten, Kathleen Ferrier, George London, Sir Peter Pears,Cesare Siepi, Isaac Stern, Joseph Szigeti, Richard Tucker,and Vronsky and Babin.

The Little Orchestra Society premiered a large number ofcontemporary works, and revived many Baroque pieces. Because of this, the Little Orchestra Society recordings provide an important source for the performance history ofthese pieces.

Controlled Access Terms

• Orchestral music.
• Operas.

Additional Creator Names

• Scherman, Thomas cnd
• Anderson, Marian, 1897-1993. prf
• Arrau, Claudio, 1903-1991. prf
• Berger, Erna, 1900- prf
• Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976. cnd prf cmp
• Ferrier, Kathleen, 1912-1953. prf
• London, George, 1920-1985. prf
• Pears, Peter, Sir. prf
• Siepi, Cesare. prf
• Stern, Isaac, 1920-2001. prf
• Szigeti, Joseph, 1892-1973. prf
• Tucker, Richard, 1913-1975. prf
• Town Hall, Inc. (New York, N.Y.)
• Vronsky and Babin.