The CBCSO was founded in 1952, and gave its first broadcast on 29 September 1952 performing Jean Sibelius's Symphony No. 3 and the overture to Gioachino Rossini's opera La Cenerentola. Conductor Geoffrey Waddington served as the orchestra's only music director,[1] although other conductors, such as Jean-Marie Beaudet, had strong ties with the orchestra. The CBCSO consisted of 80 instrumentalists of which approximately half were also members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.[2] Violinist Albert Pratz was concertmaster of the orchestra from 1953–1961.[3]
The CBCSO played weekly broadcasts on CBC Radio and also made frequent appearances on CBC Television. The orchestra performed internationally, including a tour in London, England,[4] and a performance at the Inter-American Music Festival in 1961.[5] Many of its performances were recorded by Radio Canada International and distributed outside Canada.[6] The orchestra recorded with the Mendelssohn Choir,[7] with CBC's Festival Singers, and with pianist Glenn Gould.[8]
The CBCSO performed and recorded many of the works of composer/conductor Igor Stravinsky,[9] including his Symphony of Psalms,[10][11] which featured Stravinsky as conductor and violinist Steven Staryk as concertmaster.[12]
The orchestra was disbanded in 1964.[3][7]
