The Columbia Symphony Orchestra was a studio-only orchestra devised by Columbia Records, effectively a massive supergroup of America's
best freelance musicians. Its lineup often consisted almost entirely of members from other orchestras such as The New York Philharmonic and
The Boston Symphony Orchestra. This revolving door recruitment method, combined with the conducting talents of figures like Leonard
Bernstein meant it achieved a level of proficiency that rivaled the best orchestras in the United States. It became a go-to orchestra for
composers and conductors looking to record specifically for a sales-ready product, and as a result is among the most commercially successful
orchestras of all time.
