The origins of the orchestra can be found in the opera ensemble of the Croatian National Theatre, Zagreb.

[1] He organised and conducted a professional concert on the 25 February 1871, in Stanković's theatre (the present-day building of the Zagreb Assembly).

After World War I, significant changes were brought to how Zagreb's musical ensembles were organised.

In 1919, at the encouragement of violinist Dragutin Arany, musicians of the opera ensemble officially formed a philharmonic orchestra.

[6] Recent chief conductors of the orchestra have included Kazushi Ōno (1990–1996),[7] Vjekoslav Šutej (2003–2009),[8] and David Danzmayr (2016–2019).