The orchestra was created in 2004 by Carlo Maria Badini, as a special project within the Regia Accademia Filarmonica (Philharmonic Academy) of Bologna.
The orchestra performs in many major Italian cities and in Vienna's Musikverein, where it is in residence.
Among them are Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Ravenna Festival, Lucerne Festival, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Salzburg Festival, Salle Pleyel in Paris, Palais de Beaux Arts in Brussels, Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, National Concert Hall in Budapest.
The latter have included violinist Giuliano Carmignola, violists Wolfram Christ and Diemut Poppen, double-bass player Alois Posch, oboist Lucas Macias Navarro, flautist Jacques Zoon, horn player Alessio Allegrini.
The orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado is featured on several Deutsche Grammophon CDs, mainly of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart compositions.