The orchestra was founded in 1887 and has been shaped by conductors such as Wilhelm Schüchter, Marek Janowski, Moshe Atzmon and Jac van Steen.

In 1966 they opened the new opera house Opernhaus Dortmund with a performance of Der Rosenkavalier, conducted by Wilhelm Schüchter.

5, Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder in Henze's version, and the first act of Die Walküre were performed with soloists Angela Denoke and Stig Andersen, conducted by Jac van Steen.

[3] It is part of a project begun in 2009 to perform all symphonies of Henze, whose mother was born in nearby Witten.

[4] The Dortmunder Philharmoniker recorded a CD in 2010, works of Antonín Dvořák, including his Symphony No.