"An orchestra of rare quality" - that's how High Fidelity described the Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia, founded in 1966 by Anshel Brusilow, then concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Brusilow, who studied conducting and played under Pierre Monteux, George Szell, and Eugene Ormandy, auditioned more than 1,000 musicians for the 36 full-time positions and conducted the ensemble from 1966 until 1968, when it was disbanded for want of adequate philanthropic support for a second orchestra in the city. But over the course of two and a half seasons it had already performed more than 240 concerts and made six albums for RCA Victor.

Now, for the first time in 50 years, these recordings are once again available.

Artists

Lili Chookasian (contralto), Robert Page (chorus master), James Welch (chorus master), James Kurtz (chorus master), Stuart Canin, Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia, Members of the Fordham University Glee Club, Members of the Thomas More College Women's Chorale, Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia Chorale, Anshel Brusilow