Short bio Robert Russell Bennett
Full biography Robert Russell Bennett
Robert Russell Bennett was an American composer, arranger, and conductor who lived from 1894 to 1981. Bennett is best known for his orchestration work in a number of well-known Broadway productions, including My Fair Lady, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, and Kiss Me Kate. He was one of the most sought-after Broadway orchestrators of his time, and his contributions to these musical productions played a significant role in defining the sound of American musical theater during the mid-20th century.
Beyond his work on Broadway, Bennett also composed significant amounts of music for film, television, and radio. He was a versatile musician who was proficient on multiple instruments, and he drew inspiration from a wide range of musical styles, including classical music, jazz, and popular music. Throughout his career, Bennett developed a reputation for his attention to detail and his ability to create complex and nuanced orchestrations that complemented and enhanced the works of the composers he collaborated with.
Bennett's contributions to American music have been recognized with a number of awards and honors, including Tony Awards for his orchestration work on My Fair Lady and Follies, as well as a Grammy Award for his album Victory at Sea, which featured his orchestration work on the score for the television documentary series of the same name. Today, Robert Russell Bennett is remembered as one of the most important and influential orchestrators in the history of American musical theater, and his contributions to the art form continue to be celebrated and studied by music scholars and enthusiasts alike.
Albums featuring Robert Russell Bennett
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Leopold Stokowski, Bernard Herrmann, Louis Kaufman / Rachmaninov / Robert Russell Bennett – Symphony No. 2 / Violin Concerto(CD, Compilation, Limited Edition, Mono) | 2017 | Kritzerland |
| 2 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett, Royal Northern College Of Music Wind Orchestra, Clark Rundell, Mark Heron (3) – Old American Dances(CD, Album) | 2016 | Chandos |
| 3 |  |
Hanson, Gershwin, Bennett, Sousa, Jenkins, Bryant, Williams, Tucker, Richard Shuster, Lone Star Wind Orchestra, Eugene Migliaro Corporon – American Tapestry(CD, Album) | 2008 | Naxos |
| 4 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett, The Moscow Symphony Orchestra, William Stromberg – Bennett: Abraham Lincoln - Sights and Sounds(CD, Album) | 1999 | Naxos |
| 5 |  |
Norman Dello Joio / William Schuman • Vincent Persichetti / Robert Russell Bennett, The Keystone Wind Ensemble, Jack Stamp – Pageant(CD, ) | 1998 | Citadel (3) |
| 6 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett, Henry Brant, Ross Lee Finney, Vincent Persichetti, Hale Smith, The Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, John P. Paynter – Winds Of Change: American Music For Wind Ensemble From The 1950s To The 1970s(CD, Reissue) | 1997 | New World Records |
| 7 |  |
Gershwin, RCA Victor Orchestra & Chorus, Leontyne Price, William Warfield, Mc Henry Boatwright, Skitch Hendersen, Leonard Bernstein, Robert Russell Bennett – Porgy And Bess (Highlights)(CD, Compilation) | 1995 | RCA Classics |
| 8 |  |
John Barnes Chance, Halsey Stevens, Robert Russell Bennett, William Presser, Joseph Turrin, Kent Kennan, Norman Dello Joio, Raphael Mendez, David Hickman, Pauline Soderholm, Eric Dalheim – David Hickman, Trumpet(CD, Compilation) | 1994 | Crystal Records (5) |
| 9 |  |
Richard Rodgers / Robert Russell Bennett / RCA Symphony Orchestra – More Victory At Sea(CD, Compilation, Remastered) | 1992 | RCA |
| 10 |  |
Roy Harris / Robert Russell Bennett – Symphony For Band ("West Point"); Prelude And Fugue For String Orchestra; Chorale For String Orchestra / Concerto For Violin And Orchestra(CD, Compilation) | 1989 | Bay Cities |
| 11 |  |
Victory At Sea(CD, Album, Compilation) | 1987 | RCA Red Seal |
| 12 |  |
Richard Rodgers / Robert Russell Bennett / NBC Symphony Orchestra – Victory At Sea(CD, Album) | 1987 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 13 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett , Conductor RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra – Music from Victory at Sea and Other Classics(2×LP, Album, Stereo) | 1985 | Pair Records |
| 14 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett For The Robert Shaw Chorale And RCA Symphony Orchestra : Robert Shaw – Classic Patriotic Choruses(Cassette) | 1984 | RCA Victrola |
| 15 |  |
By Special Arrangement(LP, Mono) | 1979 | AEI Records |
| 16 |  |
Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Robert Russell Bennett, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, Morton Gould Pianista E Direttore Leonard Pennario – Hello Gershwin(LP, Compilation, Stereo) | 1974 | RCA Victrola |
| 17 |  |
Van Cliburn, Fritz Reiner, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Marian Anderson, Robert Russell Bennett, RCA Victor Chamber Orchestra, Arthur Fiedler, The Boston Pops Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf, Boston Symphony Orche | 1972 | RCA Red Seal |
| 18 |  |
Richard Rodgers / Robert Russell Bennett – 3 Suites From Victory At Sea | 1970 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 19 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett, William Steinberg And The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra – Symphonic Pictures Of Lerner & Loewe's My Fair Lady And Rodgers & Hammerstein's The Sound Of Music | 1968 | Command |
| 20 |  |
Circus(LP) | 1962 | RCA |
| 21 |  |
Richard Rodgers / Robert Russell Bennett Conducting The Victory At Sea Orchestra – Victory At Sea (Pictorial Edition) Vol. 3(LP, Album, Mono) | 1961 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 22 |  |
Richard Rodgers / Robert Russell Bennett Conducting The Victory At Sea Orchestra – Victory At Sea (Pictorial Edition) Vol. 3 | 1961 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 23 |  |
NBC's Project XX Unit – The Coming Of Christ | 1961 | RCA |
| 24 |  |
William Steinberg, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Robert Russell Bennett – Stephen Foster, A Commemoration Symphony / A Symphonic Story Of Jerome Kern | 1960 | Everest |
| 25 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett Narrated By Bob Hope, Various – Not So Long Ago(LP, Album, Stereo) | 1960 | RCA Victor |
| 26 |  |
Armed Forces Suite | 1960 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 27 |  |
Arthur Fiedler ... Morton Gould ... Robert Russell Bennett – Music For Frustrated Conductors | 1959 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 28 |  |
Meet Mr. Lincoln(LP, Mono) | 1959 | Not On Label |
| 29 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett Conducting The RCA Victor Symphony, Bernstein – Symphonic Picture Of Gershwin's Porgy And Bess / Dance Music From West Side Story | 1959 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 30 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra – It's Classic But It's Good | 1958 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 31 |  |
Victoire En Mer(7", 45 RPM, EP, Mono) | 1958 | RCA |
| 32 |  |
Richard Rodgers, Robert Russell Bennett – Victory At Sea Vol. 2 | 1958 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 33 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett, RCA Victor Symphony – Classical Music For People Who Don't Know Anything About Classical Music Vol. II(7", 45 RPM, EP) | 1957 | RCA Victor |
| 34 |  |
Project XX The Innocent Years(LP, Mono) | 1957 | RCA |
| 35 |  |
D'Artega Conducting The Royal Farnsworth Symphony Orchestra , Music Of George Gershwin Piano Soloist Suzanne Auber Arranged By Robert Russell Bennett – American In Paris / Porgy And Bess | 1957 | Design Records (2) |
| 36 |  |
Classical Music For People Who Don't Know Anything About Classical Music | 1957 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 37 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett, Members Of The NBC Symphony – Adventure In High Fidelity(7", 45 RPM, EP) | 1954 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 38 |  |
Richard Rodgers / Robert Russell Bennett / NBC Symphony Orchestra – Victory At Sea | 1953 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 39 |  |
Richard Rodgers / Robert Russell Bennett / NBC Symphony Orchestra – Victory At Sea(7", 45 RPM, EP, Mono) | 1953 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 40 |  |
Cornelia Otis Skinner - Kay Swift, Nathaniel Shilkret, Robert Russell Bennett – Paris '90 | 1952 | Columbia |
| 41 |  |
Alan Dale, George Paxton & His Orchestra, The Three Suns, Enric Madriguera, Russell Bennett – Cole Porter's Greatest Songs(LP, 10", Album, Compilation) | 1951 | Herald (10) |
| 42 |  |
Gershwin / Risë Stevens Mezzo-Soprano Robert Merrill Baritone Robert Shaw Conductor The Robert Shaw Chorale, Robert Russell Bennett Conductor RCA Victor Orchestra – Porgy And Bess | 1951 | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 43 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett, Jascha Heifetz – Hexapoda: Five Studies In Jitteroptera(2×Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Album) | 1946 | Decca |
| 44 |  |
Reed, Hanson, Bennett, Persichetti, Barber - Eastman Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell – La Fiesta Mexicana / Chorale And Alleluia / Suite Of Old American Dances / Divertimento For Band / Commando March(LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono) | - | Philips |
| 45 |  |
John Philip Sousa, Edward MacDowell, Charles Griffes, Charles Ives, Ferde Grofé, Virgil Thomson, Howard Hanson, Robert Russell Bennett, George Gershwin, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, Morton Gould, William Schuman, Walter Piston, Leroy Anderson – Bicentena | - | Philips |
| 46 |  |
Music From Project Twenty's "Down To The Sea In Ships"(LP, Compilation) | - | RCA Custom Records |
| 47 |  |
George Gershwin, Robert Russell Bennett – U.S. Composers(16", 33 ⅓ RPM, Transcription) | - | U.S. Department Of State |
| 48 |  |
Gershwin, Risë Stevens, Robert Merrill, RCA Victor Orchestra, Robert Russell Bennett – Selections From "Porgy And Bess"(7", 45 RPM, EP) | - | RCA |
| 49 |  |
Harry Sosnik And His Orchestra / Thelma Carpenter / Russell Bennett – Music From "Showboat"(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | - | Royale |
| 50 |  |
Sigmund Romberg : Jeanette MacDonald, Robert Merrill with Orchestra Robert Russell Bennett – Close As Pages In A Book / The Fireman's Bride(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | - | RCA Victor |
| 51 |  |
People Will Say We're In Love / I Can't Say No - Out Of My Dreams(7") | - | Royale |
| 52 |  |
Richard Rodgers / Robert Russell Bennett / RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra – Victory At Sea Volume 1(LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo) | - | RCA Victor Red Seal |
| 53 |  |
Gershwin, Risë Stevens, Robert Merrill, The Robert Shaw Chorale, Robert Russell Bennett – Porgy And Bess(LP) | - | RCA |
| 54 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett, Orquestra RCA Victor, NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini – George Gershwin–Porgy and Bess (Auszüge)—Ein Amerikaner in Paris(LP) | - | RCA |
| 55 |  |
Robert Russell Bennett, Robert Shaw, Risë Stevens, Robert Merrill – Fragmentos de Porgy And Bess(LP, Album) | - | RCA Española, S.A. |
| 56 |  |
The Law And The Prophets(LP) | - | RCA Victor Custom Record Division |
| 57 |  |
Works For Violin(LP, Album, Stereo) | - | Musical Heritage Society |
| 58 |  |
Alfred Drake, Saint Subber & Lemuel Ayers Present Cole Porter, Pembroke Davenport, Robert Russell Bennett, Bella & Samuel Spewack With Lisa Kirk, Harold Lang, Patricia Morison – Kiss Me, Kate(LP, Reissue) | - | Columbia Masterworks |
| 59 |  |
Violin Concerto In A Major (In The Popular Style) / Song Sonata For Violin And Piano / Hexapoda (Five Studies In Jitteroptera)(LP, Album, Stereo) | - | Citadel (3) |
| 60 |  |
Porgy And Bess (A Symphonic Picture)(3×Shellac, 12", 78 RPM, Album) | - | Victor |
| 61 |  |
Harry Sosnik And His Orchestra / Thelma Carpenter / Russell Bennett – Music From "Showboat"(LP, 10") | - | Royale |
| 62 |  |
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , Conductor Richard Linz, The Armed Forces Symphony , Arranger Robert Russell Bennett – Highlights From Richard Rodgers' Victory At Sea(LP, Album, Stereo) | - | Alshire Records |
Videos featuring Robert Russell Bennett
Columbia ML 4619 Paris '90, preview record
From Kit 14 (February 1953) of the Columbia Masterwork Demonstration Kits.
See https://archive.is/4iP7#selection-1203.0-1203.39
Play written and performed by Cornelia Otis Skinner.
Music and lyrics by Kay Swift
"Victory at Sea" (1952) - Suite - Richard Rodgers
From the 1976 London Phase 4 "Film Spectacular, Vol. 6 - World War II" LP album (SP 44248) - Stanley Black conducting the London Festival Orchestra.
The Song of the High Seas (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
The Song of the High Seas (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett · Richard Rodgers / Rodgers
Victory At Sea
℗ Originally Recorded 1959. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Victory At Sea - Richard Rodgers & Robert Russell Bennett! (2+ HOUR ALBUM)
Victory at Sea is a documentary television series about warfare in general during World War II, and naval warfare in particular, as well as the use of industry in warfare. It was originally broadcast by NBC in the USA in 1952–1953. It was condensed into
The Pacific Boils Over (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
The Pacific Boils Over (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett · Richard Rodgers / Rodgers
Victory At Sea
℗ Originally Recorded 1959. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Re-
Victory at Sea - Richard Rodgers/Robert Russell Bennet
From the July 2, 2012 concert at the J. E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir, NC.
The Western Piedmont Symphony : John Gordon Ross, Music Director and Conductor
Gould: West Point Symphony - 2. Marches
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Gould: West Point Symphony - 2. Marches · Eastman Wind Ensemble · Frederick Fennell
Gould: West Point Symphony/Hovhaness: Symphony No.4/Giannini: Symphony No. 3
℗ 1959 Universal International Music B.V.
Rel
Fire on the Waters (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Fire on the Waters (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett · Richard Rodgers / Rodgers
Victory At Sea
℗ Originally Recorded 1959. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Produce
Victory at Sea - Beneath the Southern Cross
From the great soundtrack to the acclaimed documentary "Victory at Sea", "Beneath the Southern Cross" from volume 1 of a 3 volume collection of vinyl LPs converted to high quality mp3s. Composed by Richard Rodgers; The RCA Victor Orchestra is conducted Ro
Guadalcanal March
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Guadalcanal March · Robert Russell Bennett · Richard Rodgers / Rodgers
Victory At Sea
℗ Originally Recorded 1959. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Re- Mastering Engineer: N
Victory at Sea - Main Theme
The Song of the High Seas from the Victory at Sea soundtrack, contains the Main Theme song. Composed by Richard Rodgers; The RCA Victor Orchestra is conducted Robert Russell Bennett. Converted from the original 1959 vinyl LP soundtrack using Acoustica Spi
Victory at Sea - Victory at Sea
From the great soundtrack to the acclaimed documentary "Victory at Sea", "Victory at Sea" from volume 1 of a 3 volume collection of vinyl LPs converted to high quality mp3s. Composed by Richard Rodgers; The RCA Victor Orchestra is conducted Robert Russell
Peleliu (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Peleliu (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett
More Victory At Sea
℗ Recorded Prior to 1972. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Arranger, Conductor: Robert Russell Bennett
Victory at Sea (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by RCA Victor
Victory at Sea (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett · Richard Rodgers
Victory At Sea
℗ Originally Recorded 1957. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Re-mastering Engineer: Nathaniel S.
Theme of the Fast Carriers (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Theme of the Fast Carriers (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett · Richard Rodgers / Rodgers
Victory At Sea
℗ Originally Recorded 1959. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Hard Work and Horseplay (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Hard Work and Horseplay (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett · Richard Rodgers / Rodgers
Victory At Sea
℗ Originally Recorded 1959. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Re
Guadalcanal March
From the great soundtrack to the acclaimed documentary "Victory at Sea", "Guadalcanal March" from volume 1 of a 3 volume collection of vinyl LPs converted to high quality mp3s. Composed by Richard Rodgers; The RCA Victor Orchestra is conducted Robert Rus
Mare Nostrum (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Mare Nostrum (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett · Richard Rodgers / Rodgers
Victory At Sea
℗ Originally Recorded 1959. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Re- Mastering
Victory at Sea - The Pacific Boils Over
From the great soundtrack to the acclaimed documentary "Victory at Sea", "The Pacific Boils Over" from volume 1 of a 3 volume collection of vinyl LPs converted to high quality mp3s. Composed by Richard Rodgers; The RCA Victor Orchestra is conducted Rober
Beneath the Southern Cross (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Beneath the Southern Cross (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett · Richard Rodgers / Rodgers
Victory At Sea
℗ Originally Recorded 1959. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
1953 Beneath The Southern Cross from “Victory At Sea” - Robt. Russell Bennett & NBC Symphony
Most people would probably first recognize this tango tune as the #1 song hit “No Other Love,” which was popularized by Perry Como in mid-1953 and was written by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein for their Broadway show “Me And Juliet” (listen h
Mediterranean Mosaic (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Mediterranean Mosaic (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett · Richard Rodgers / Rodgers
Victory At Sea
℗ Originally Recorded 1957. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Produ
Allies on the March (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Allies on the March (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett
More Victory At Sea
℗ Recorded Prior to 1972. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Arranger, Conductor: Robert Russ
D-Day (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
D-Day (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett · Richard Rodgers / Rodgers
Victory At Sea
℗ Originally Recorded 1959. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Re- Mastering Engin
The Sound of Victory (1992 Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
The Sound of Victory (1992 Remastered) · Robert Russell Bennett
More Victory At Sea
℗ Recorded Prior to 1972. All Rights Reserved by BMG Music
Released on: 1992-08-11
Arranger, Conductor: Robert Rus
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