Over the past two hundred years the city of Iasi was very close linked to European music performances (just to remember here Franz Liszt's concerts in January 1847).

In Iasi, in 1860 the School of Music was inaugurated (that became in 1864 the Conservatory of Music and Drama Arts). In 1868 the first Philharmonic Society was created, but unfortunately it had a short life (its opening concert took place on January 14th, 1869). Only in 1918 was set up the George Enescu Philharmonic Society of Iasi, which performed music of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Weber and Wagner.

After all these endeavours, on October 9th, 1942 took place the inaugural concert of the Iasi State Philharmonic, having George Enescu as a conductor. Since then, the artistic activity of the Philharmonic has steadily increased its quality and diversity.

Professor Radu Constantinescu, together with other upholders of the new born institution, formed an ensemble prepared to perform a representative repertoire, leading soon to a distinctive interpretive style. So, during the first ten years of its activity, the ensemble performed more than 150 works. For the first time could be listened in Iasi symphonic works by Mozart, Brahms, Schubert, Schumann, R. Strauss, Debussy, Shostakovitch etc., concertos by Saint-Saens, Glazunov, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Ravel and Romanian music by Al. Zirra, A. Castaldi, M. Andricu, A. Stoia, A. Alessandrescu.

In the spring of 1953, an important event opened new perspectives in the artistic life of the Iasi Philharmonic: the foundation of the Choir, that in the fall of the same year received the name of Gavriil Musicescu Choir of the Iasi State Philharmonic. Thus, for the first time, it was possible to perform in Iasi the 9th Symphony by Beethoven (June 4th, 1954), the Requiem by Mozart (May 27, 1955), The Seasons Oratorio by Haydn (April 26, 1957), Verdi's Requiem (February 17, 1961) and Carmina burana by Carl Orff (January 19, 1962). This important repertoire was added to more than 100 new titles of the vocal-symphonic genre, as well as to an impressive a cappella repertoire.

The second important event in the history of the Iasi Phiharmonic, after the foundation of the Choir, took place in 1962, when the young musician Ion Baciu came to Iasi as the resident conductor of the Symphonic Orchestra. In a very short time, he became a stately figure of Iasi musical life. Ion Baciu started to form the famous ¡°Super-Orchestra¡±, giving more vigour to the ensemble by renewing it with students from the Conservatory. Moreover, as he could notice some special features of the instrumental school in Iasi, such as the special sound of the strings; Ion Baciu created over the ¡®70s, what Maestro Emanuel Elenescu called "a symphonic team" and the musicologist Iosif Sava, "Baciu's Stradivarius".

During this period, the repertoire no longer impressed in the number of works, but through their quality of performance. The conductor preferred Enescu's music, towards which he showed special sensibility. For the first time in Iasi the Dixtuor for winds and especially the 3rd Symphony with chorus (April 10, 1964) were performed. Other important first auditions: Le Sacre du printemps by Stravinsky (October 1962), works by Bartok, Skriabin, Debussy, Ravel, Stefan Niculescu, Aurel Stroe, Dumitru Capoianu, Pascal Bentoiu etc.

A major event during Ion Baciu's period took place in 1975 (in Iasi) and in 1981 (in Bucharest), as the Oedip was performed, on the occasion of the George Enescu's birth centenary. Maestro Ion Baciu proved outstanding qualities not only as a conductor and a composer, but even as producer and stage director as well. He created a very interesting and much appreciated concert version of Enescu's masterpiece Oedip.

After 1970, the Orchestra became well-known throughout the country and soon enough also abroad. From 1971, the ensemble performed tours every year, coming in contact with a new and diverse repertoire, allowing to adapt to any musical style or genre.

After 1975, the Iasi Philharmonic became an appreciated artistical appearance not only in the Romanian concert halls especially in Bucharest, but also abroad: Beethovensaal in Bonn, the Antique Theatre of Macerata (Italy), Meistersingersaal in Nurnberg, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Edvard Grieg Concert Hall in Bergen (Norway), Salle Gaveau in Paris, Gasteig in Munich, De Doelen in Rotterdam, etc. Also in New York, Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston and Los Angeles, in Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal.

Since 1990, the Symphonic Orchestra of the Iasi Philharmonic is invited every year to perform at the International Contest Grand Prix Maria Callas in Athens.
This success came as a result of so many hours of rehearsal with Maestro Ion Baciu. After more than 25 years, the musicians of Iasi are now appreciated for their professionalism, exigency, discipline and, last but not least, for their inexhaustible enthusiasm.

Apart from the concert performances, the ensembles of the Iasi Philharmonic, the Symphonic Orchestra and the Gavriil Musicescu Choir - execute also many recordings on CD, at radio or TV, with all kinds of music genres.

In 1998, another important event took place: the Council of the Iasi County alloted the amount to acquiring a Steinway Grand piano from Hamburg.

In 1986, the conductor Ion Baciu left Iasi, being followed by Gheorghe Costin. Between 1995-2001, besides Gheorghe Costin, also the young Camil Marinescu was resident conductor of Iasi Philharmonic. In 1998, Alexandru Lascae joined the Iasi Philharmonic. Alexandru Lascae is at present the resident conductor of Iasi Philharmonic.

Beginning with 2004, Iasi Philharmonic has granted to the American conductor Paul Nadler the position of "Principal Guest Conductor".

Since March 2006, the same position of "Principal Guest Conductor" was granted as well to the young musician Mark Mast, from Germany.

Conductor : Romeo Rimbu