Since its founding in 1934, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal has distinguished itself as a leader in the orchestral life of Québec and Canada and as a cultural ambassador of the highest order. The music directors who have contributed to its growth and success are Wilfrid Pelletier, Désiré Defauw, Igor Markevitch, Zubin Mehta, Franz-Paul Decker, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Charles Dutoit, and, since September 2006, Kent Nagano.

Over the years, the OSM has undertaken some forty excursions and tours. The Orchestra has carried out nine tours in Asia, ten tours in Europe and two in South America. Under the direction of music director Kent Nagano, the Orchestra has performed at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris (2006), toured across Canada (2007), in both Japan and South Korea (2008), performed...

Since its founding in 1934, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal has distinguished itself as a leader in the orchestral life of Québec and Canada and as a cultural ambassador of the highest order. The music directors who have contributed to its growth and success are Wilfrid Pelletier, Désiré Defauw, Igor Markevitch, Zubin Mehta, Franz-Paul Decker, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Charles Dutoit, and, since September 2006, Kent Nagano.

Over the years, the OSM has undertaken some forty excursions and tours. The Orchestra has carried out nine tours in Asia, ten tours in Europe and two in South America. Under the direction of music director Kent Nagano, the Orchestra has performed at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris (2006), toured across Canada (2007), in both Japan and South Korea (2008), performed in Nunavik in Northern Quebec (with seven OSM musicians – 2008), in Europe (six countries and twelve cities visited, 2009) and twice in Carnegie Hall (2008 and 2011), where the OSM played almost every year between 1982 and 2004 to full houses. In August 2011 they took part for the first time in the Orchestra’s history in the Edinburgh International Festival.

The OSM has made over 100 recordings for Decca, EMI, Philips, CBC Records, Analekta, ECM and Sony as well as on its own label,which have earned it a total of 48 national and international awards. OSM performances are broadcast throughout Canada by the Orchestra’s official broadcaster Radio-Canada, on its radio and television networks during prime time and on its website. The OSM’s 75th season was the subject of a documentary by director Bettina Ehrhardt, Montréal Symphonie, named Best Canadian Film at the 2010 edition of the International Festival of Films on Art (Montreal). Moreover, the documentary Tusarnituuq! Nagano in the Land of the Inuit, in which director Félix Lajeunesse immortalized the 2008 Nunavik tour, was presented at the 2009 edition of the Montreal World Film Festival.

On September 7, 2011, the OSM and Maestro Nagano inaugurated the Maison symphonique de Montréal, the Orchestra's new home.