There have been a number of organisations with this name, including one formed in 1897 which lasted ten years, and another formed in 1930 which lasted eleven. The current orchestra, however, traces its roots back to 1935, when Wilfrid Pelletier formed an ensemble called Les Concerts Symphoniques. It changed to its current name in 1954.
Principal conductorss of the orchestra have included Otto Klemperer (1950-53), Zubin Mehta (1961-67) and, from 1978, Charles Dutoit.
The orchestra won a Grammy award in 1996 for their recording of Hector Berlioz' Les Troyens. It has also won a number of Juno Awards.