The orchestra was founded in 1934[1] as an amateur "recreational ensemble", with Robert Resta as its first music director.
The orchestra became fully professional in 1966, and hired Alberto Bolet as music director two years later.
[3] The orchestra faced serious financial troubles in the mid-1980s and cancelled an entire season in 1984-85.
[6][7] The orchestra announced the appointment of Eckart Preu as its sixth music director in August 2016.
[9] In 2024 the symphony celebrated its 90th anniversary with a reprise of its opening performance of Beethoven's Egmont Overture.