The orchestra participated in various operatic productions and in special musical projects as well as international competitions.
It served as the regular accompanying orchestra of the Kiril Kondrashin Conductors' Masterclasses, the Oscar Back Concours, and the International Vocalists' Competition.
It has also played in the Dutch première of Tri sestry (Three Sisters) by Peter Eötvös, in a co-production with the Netherlands Touring Opera Company.
The RSO's chief conductors included Kenneth Montgomery (1985–1989), Henry Lewis (1989–1991), Kees Bakels (1991–1996) and Eri Klas (1996–2003).
[1] Other guest conductors have included Jiří Kout, János Fürst, Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Jaap van Zweden, and Alexander Lazarev, as well as Marc Soustrot, Armin Jordan, and Jean-Bernard Pommier.