RCA Victor CLASSICAL Pre-Recorded Monophonic Half Track High Fidelity
and "New Orthophonic" High Fidelity Reel-to-Reel tapes 1954-57

Advertisement from the August 1954 edition of Tape Recording Magazine.
No catalogue numbers were yet displayed for the various titles.

TC-1 / BC-1 / CC-1   Leopold Stokowski - His Symphony Orchestra
Tchaikovsky: Aurora's Wedding (complete Ballet Suite, arranged Diaghileff) (June 1954)

Recorded April 8-9 and 14, 1954 in the Manhattan Center, NYC. Early variations of tape boxes
depicted. Charles D Sigsbee's review is from the August 1955 edition of Tape Recording Magazine.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

TC-2 / DC-2   Leopold Stokowski - His Symphony Orchestra
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 5 in E Minor, Op 64 (June 1954)

Recorded February 10 and 12, 1953 in the Manhattan Center, NYC. Also
released by RCA-Victor on LM-1780. 1954 and 1955 editions depicted. Both are 7" reels.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

TC-3 / BC-3   Charles Munch - Boston Symphony Orchestra
R Strauss: Don Quixote, Op 35 (Fantastic variations on a knightly theme) (June 1954)

Recorded August 17, 1953, Boston Symphony Hall. Also released by RCA-Victor on LM-1781.
Charles D Sigsbee's review is from the February 1956 edition of Tape Recording Magazine.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

TC-4 / BC-4   Fritz Reiner - RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra - Vladimir Horowitz, piano
Beethoven: Concerto No 5 ("Emperor") (June 1954)

Recorded April 26, 1952 in Carnegie Hall, NYC.
This is a 5" reel. Also released by RCA-Victor on LM-1718.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

TC-5 / CC-5   Robert Russell Bennet - Members of the NBC Symphony Orchestra
Victory at Sea - Orchestral Suite from the NBC Television Production (June 1954)

Recorded on July 2-3, 1953 in the 7th floor ballrom of the Manhattan Center, NYC with a single
microphone placed 14 feet above the conductor's head. 1954 and 1955 7" editions depicted.

TC-6 / CC-6   Charles Munch - Boston Symphony Orchestra - Artur Rubinstein, piano
Brahms: Concerto No 2 in B-Flat, Op 83 (June 1954)

Recorded August 11, 1952, Boston Symphony Hall. This is a 7" reel. 1954 and 1955 7" tape boxes depicted.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

TC-7 / BC-7   Arturo Toscanini - NBC Symphony Orchestra
Dvorák: Symphony No 5 ("From the New World") (June 1954)

Original 1954 7" edition and 5" re-release depicted. Recorded February 2, 1953 in
Carnegie Hall, NYC. Also released by RCA-Victor on LM-1778.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

TC-8 / CC-8   Arturo Toscanini - NBC Symphony Orchestra
Brahms: Symphony No 1 in C minor, Op 68 (June 1954)

Recorded November 3, 1951 in Carnegie Hall, NYC. Early variations of tape boxes and 1957
edition depicted. These are 7" reels. Also released by RCA-Victor on LM-1702.

TB-1 / BC-9   Erich Leinsdorf - Robin Hood Dell Orchestra of Philadelphia
Franck: Symphony in D Minor (June 1954)

Original 1954 7" edition and 5" re-release depicted. Recorded July 18, 1952 in the Academy of Music, Philadelphia PA.
First released by RCA-Victor on LBC-1001 in 1953.

1957 edition tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

TB-2 / DC-10   Erich Leinsdorf - Robin Hood Dell Orchestra of Philadelphia - Ania Dorfmann, piano
Grieg: Concerto in A Minor, Op 16 / Mendelssohn: Concerto No 1, Op 25 (June 1954)

Recorded July 7 (Mendelssohn) and 8 (Grieg), 1953 in the Academy of Music, Philadelphia PA. 1954 and 1955 7" tape boxes depicted.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse. Also released by RCA-Victor on LBC-1043.

TB-3 / BC-11   Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra - Byron Janis, pianist
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue / Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite (excerpts) (June 1954)

Original 1954 7" edition and 5" re-release depicted. Originally released by RCA-Victor on LBC-1045 in 1953.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

TB-4 / DC-12   Robert Irving - The Philharmonia Orchestra
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op 20 (June 1954)

Originally released by RCA-Victor on LBC-1064 in 1953.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

CC-13   Robert Irving - Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden - The Philharmonia Orchestra
Chopin: Les Sylphides / Arnold: English Dances (August 1955)

First edition tape box. This is a 7" reel.

1957 edition tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse. Also released by RCA-Victor on LBC-1078.

DC-14   Arthur Fiedler - Boston Pops Orchestra
Offenbach: Gaîté Parisienne / Meyerbeer: Les Patineurs (August 1955)

Recorded in June 1954, Symphony Hall, Boston. First released by RCA-Victor as LM-1817 in 1954,
also released in stereo in 1956 on ECS-15. 1955 and 1957 tape box editions depicted.

CC-15   Fritz Reiner - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Artur Rubinstein, piano
Brahms: Concerto No 1 in D Minor, Op 15 (August 1955)

Recorded April 17, 1954, Orchestra Hall, Chicago.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse. Also released by RCA-Victor on LM-1831.

CC-16   Arturo Toscanini - NBC Symphony Orchestra
Mussorgsky-Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition / Franck: Psyché and Eros (August 1955)

Recorded January 26, 1953 in Carnegie Hall, NYC.

1957 edition tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse. Also released on LM-1838.

BC-17   Alfred Wallenstein - Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra - Artur Rubinstein, piano
Chopin: Concerto No 1 in E Minor, Op 11 (1956)

1957 edition tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

DC-18   Artur Rubinstein, piano
Chopin: Waltzes (complete) (1956)

First and 1957 editions 7" tape boxes depicted.

AC-19   Leopold Stokowski - His Symphony Orchestra
Enesco: Roumanian Rhapsodies Nos 1 and 2 (1956)

Recorded July 23 and October 1, 1953 in the Manhattan Center, NYC. Also released by RCA-Victor on LM-1878.
1957 edition tape box with nationally advertised price printed on the upper left-hand corner.

AC-20   Leopold Stokowski - His Symphony Orchestra
Mussorgsky: A Might on Bare Mountain / Rimsky-Korsakoff: Russian Easter Overture / Glière: Russian Sailors' Dance (1956)

First edition tape box. This is a 5" reel.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

AC-21   Charles Munch - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Ravel: La Valse / Rapsodie Espagnole (1956)

First and 1957 editions tape boxes depicted.

AC-22   Alfred Wallenstein - Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra - Jascha Heifetz, violinist
J. S. Bach: Concerto in A Minor / Concerto in E (1956)

1956 edition, this is a 5" reel.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

AC-23   Charles Munch - Boston Symphony Orchestra - Alexander Brailowsky, piano
Saint-Saëns: Concerto No 4 in C Minor, Op 44 (1956)

Recorded November 24, 1954, Boston Symphony Hall. First edition tape box. This is a 5" reel.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse. Also released by RCA-Victor on LM-1871.

DC-24   Fritz Reiner - Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Mozart: Divertimento No 17 in D, K334 / Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K525 (1956)

Recorded April 23-26, 1955 and December 4, 1954 in Orchestra Hall, Chicago. Also released on LM-1966.
This is a 7" reel although the format of the insert indicates that it originally was intended as a 5" release.

xC-25   UNRELEASED
No tape seems to have been issued under this catalog number.

AC-26   Arturo Toscanini - NBC Symphony Orchestra
Bizet: Carmen Suite No 1 / Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Prelude / Thomas: Mignon Overture (1956)

First and 1957 editions tape boxes depicted.

AC-27   Arturo Toscanini - NBC Symphony Orchestra
Operatic Overtures: Weber: Der Freischütz / Euryanthe / Oberon / Verdi: La Forza del Destino (1956)

First edition tape box. This is a 5" reel.

1957 edition, 7" tape box with picture cover and liner notes on reverse.

CC-28   Fritz Reiner - Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Mozart: Symphonies Nos 39 and 40 (1957)

First edition tape box with nationally advertised price printed on the upper left-hand corner.

AC-29   Fried Walter - Vienna Bohemian Orchestra
Forever the Waltz (1957)

First edition tape box with nationally advertised price printed on the upper left-hand corner.

CC-30   Pierre Monteux - Members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Delibes: Sylvia / Coppélia (April 1957)

First edition tape box with nationally advertised price printed on the upper left-hand corner.

DC-31   Morton Gould and his Orchestra
Gershwin: Concerto in F / Porgy and Bess Suite (1957)

First edition tape box with nationally advertised price printed on the upper left-hand corner.

DC-32   Renato Cellini and Jonel Perlea - RCA Victor Orchestra - The Robert Shaw Chorale
Verdi: La Forza del Destino (Highlights) (1957)

All star cast including Zinka Milanov, Jan Peerce, Leonard Warren, Raymond Keast and Nicola Moscona.
First edition tape box with nationally advertised price printed on the upper left-hand corner.

DC-33   Dimitri Mitropoulos - Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Verdi: A Masked Ball (Highlights) (1957)

Recorded January 9-21, 1955 in the Manhattan Center, NYC. All-star cast including Zinka Milanov, Roberta Peters, Marion Anderson,
Jan Peerce and Leonard Warren. First edition tape box with nationally advertised price printed on the upper left-hand corner.

DC-34   Renato Cellini - RCA Victor Orchestra - The Robert Shaw Chorale
Verdi: Il Trovatore (Highlights) (April 1957)

Recorded February 22, March 6-7, 11, 13-14, 16 and 30, 1952 in the Manhattan Center, NYC. First released in January
1955 on LM-1827. The all-star cast including Zinka Milanov, Fedora Barbieri, Jussi Björling and Leonard Warren.
First and only edition. Many still consider this to be the finest cast ever assembled to record Il Trovatore.

DC-35   Leopold Stokowski - Members of the NBC Symphony Orchestra - The Robert Shaw Chorale
Saint-Saëns: Samson and Delilah (Highlights) (April 1957)

All-star cast, first and only edition.

CC-36   Renato Cellini - RCA Victor Orchestra - The Robert Shaw Chorale
Verdi: Rigoletto (Highlights) (1957)

First edition tape box with nationally advertised price printed on the upper left-hand corner.

CC-37   Morton Gould and his Orchestra
Rodgers and Hammerstein II: Oklahoma! / Carousel Suites (April 1957)

First edition tape box with nationally advertised price printed on the upper left-hand corner.

BC-38   Arturo Toscanini - NBC Symphony Orchestra
Ponchielli: Dance of the Hours / Sibelius: Finlandia / Hérold: Zampa Overture / Berlioz - Roman Carnival Overture (April 1957)

First edition tape box with nationally advertised price printed on the upper left-hand corner.

CC-39   Artur Rubinstein, Pianist
Beethoven: Sonata No 23 in F Minor, Op 57 ("Appassionata") / Sonata No 8 in C Minor, Op 13 ("Pathétique") (April 1957)

First edition tape box with nationally advertised price printed on the upper left-hand corner.

CC-40   Robert Shaw - The Male Chorus of the Robert Shaw Chorale
With Love from a Chorus (1957)

FC-41 / EC-42   Jonel Perlea - Rome Opera House Orchestra and Chorus
Verdi: Aïda, Acts I - IV (complete) (1957)

Recorded July 2-18, 1955 in Rome's Opera House, Italy. First released in 1956 on LM-6122. 1st and only edition tape box set in slip
case. The all star cast includes Zinka Milanov, Fedora Barbieri, Jussi Björling, Leonard Warren, Boris Christoff and others.
"...an overall singing cast of this quality only comes round every other generation or two at the most" (Robert J Farr).

The Italian-English libretto from the LP edition could be requested from RCA-Victor against 25 cents handling charges.

EC-43 / DC-44   Pierre Monteux - Rome Opera House Orchestra and Chorus
Verdi: La Traviata, Acts I - III (complete) (1957)

Recorded 1956 in Rome, Italy. Also released in October 1956 on LM-6040. 1st and only edition tape box set in slipcase.

The Italian-English libretto from the LP edition could be requested from RCA-Victor against 25 cents handling charges.

DC-45 / DC-46   Sir Thomas Beecham - RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Puccini: La Bohème, Acts I - IV (complete) (1957)

Recorded March 16-17 and 30 to April 6, 1956 in the Manhattan Center, NYC. Also released in December 1956 on LM-6042.
The all star cast includes Jussi Björling, Victoria de los Angeles, Robert Merrill and Giorgio Tozzi. By many
regarded as THE recording of La Bohème. 1st and only edition, tape box set in slipcase.

The Italian-English libretto from the LP edition could be requested from RCA-Victor against 25 cents handling charges.

CC-47 / CC-48 / AC-49   Gianandrea Gavazzeni - Rome Opera House Chorus and Orchestra
Puccini: Madama Butterfly, Acts I - III (complete) (April 1957)

Recorded July 26-31 and August 2-6, 8-9, 11 and 23, 1954 in the Teatro dell’Opera, Rome. Also released in 1955 on LM-6121.
Very rare, beautiful and overlooked performance. 1st and only edition, triple tape box set in slipcase.

The Italian-English libretto from the LP edition could be requested from RCA-Victor against 25 cents handling charges.

xC-50   UNRELEASED
No tape seems to have been issued under this catalog number.

BC-51   Arturo Toscanini - NBC Symphony Orchestra
Respighi: Pines of Rome / Fountains of Rome (1957)

EC-52   Arturo Toscanini - NBC Symphony Orchestra
Beethoven: Symphony No 9 in D Minor, Op 125 ("Choral") (April 1957)

First and only edition tape box. No liner notes on reverse but a 4 page insert was included. Recorded in Carnegie Hall on March 31
and April 1, 1952. Eileen Farrell, Jan Peerce, Nan Merriman, Norman Scott and the Robert Shaw Chorale are featured.
This very rare tape was the final monaural half-track release in the Classical series by RCA Victor.

Catalog:   RCA Victor pre-recorded Tapes
Including dual track stereo-orthophonic. All with brilliant "New Orthophonic" High Fidelity Sound (July 1957)

Contains all Classical mono tapes up to the very last, EC-52.
From the same catalog, RCA's tape prefixes are explained to the right.

RV-53   Around the Reel
with "The World's Greatest Artists" (1957)

This monaural sampler contains classical selections ranging from DC-14 up to DC-31.
In spite of this, it was released in the Popular series with blue label.

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