The NBC Symphony Orchestra was established in 1937 by NBC for the conductor Arturo Toscanini, with whom it made weekly national broadcasts, and also recordings, of symphonic and operatic music for many years. The orchestra toured South America with Toscanini in 1939 and the USA in 1950. It also performed with various guest conductors, including the promising young Italian conductor, Guido Cantelli. Upon Toscanini's retirement in 1954, NBC decided to disband the orchestra, much to Toscanini's profound distress.

Some members of the orchestra went on to play with other symphony orchestras, but many members formed the conductor-less Symphony of the Air, which existed for a few more years until it disbanded.