With a reputation for excellence, versatility and innovation the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is Australia's internationally-acclaimed and oldest orchestra, celebrating its centenary in 2007. This fine Australian orchestra is renowned for its performances of the great symphonic masterworks with leading international soloists and conductors including Mariss Jansons, Jessye Norman, Jennifer Larmore, Bryn Terfel, Maxim Vengerov, John Williams, Osmo Vänska, Paavo Järvi, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Donald Runnicles, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Barbara Bonney, Yvonne Kenny, Sir Charles Mackerras, Marcello Viotti, Simone Young, Lang Lang, Nigel Kennedy, Jeffrey Tate and Midori. It has also enjoyed hugely-successful performances with the Three Tenors, Frank Sinatra, Kiri Te Kanawa, Elton John, John Farnham, Dionne Warwick, Andrea Bocelli, Harry Connick, Jr. kd lang, Stevie Nicks, Ben Folds, rock bands KISS and Meat Loaf as well as performing in the 2006 Commonwealth Games opening and closing ceremonies.
In 2005, Oleg Caetani took up the baton as the MSO's Chief Conductor and Artistic Director for a four-year appointment. In 2007 he will lead the Orchestra on its second European tour.
The MSO has received widespread international recognition in overseas tours to the United States of America, Canada, Japan, Korea, Europe (2000), China (2002), St Petersburg, Russia (2003) and Japan (2005).
Each year the Orchestra performs to more than 250,000 people in Melbourne and regional Victoria, at events ranging from the annual series of Sidney Myer Free Concerts in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl to the series of Classic Kids concerts for young children. The MSO reaches an even larger audience across Australia through its regular concert broadcasts on ABC Classic FM. Some performances are presented on ABC TV and the documentary To Russia with Love, about the Orchestra's St. Petersburg tour, was one of the flagship programs in ABC TV's Sunday Afternoon series in 2005.
Recent recordings include major CD releases on the Chandos and ABC Classics labels. The MSO's Chandos recording of Alexandre Tansman's Symphonies No. 4, 5 and 6 with Oleg Caetani recently received a Diapason d'Or (Discovery) award. In 2005 the Orchestra launched a new live-in-concert CD series, MSO LIVE through ABC Classics. In addition, members of the Orchestra have featured on numerous film soundtracks including those for such major motion pictures as Babe, IQ, Hotel Sorrento, Six Degrees of Separation, Babe II – Pig in the City and The Dish. The MSO has also recorded music for a number of computer and console-based games based on films such as Jurassic Park and The Polar Express.

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd is a member of the Symphony Services Australia network. The Orchestra is funded principally by the Australia Council, the Commonwealth Government's arts funding and advisory body and is generously supported by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria, Department of Premier and Cabinet. The MSO is also funded by the City of Melbourne, its Principal Partner, Emirates, and individual and corporate sponsors and donors.