In 1965, following the dissolution of the Orchestre Régional de l'ORTF, the City of Marseille decided to create the Orchestre de l'Opéra de Marseille. In 1981, Janos Furst, the new Director of Music, decided to create the "Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille", and it was thanks to the exclusive support of the municipality that the number of musicians was increased to 88.Since then, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille has endeavored not only to perform the great works of the classical and romantic repertoire, but also to pay tribute to 20th-century composers such as Messiaen, Tomasi, Lesur, Chaynes, Dutilleux, Florentz, Charpentier, Barber, Bernstein, Gershwin, León... And to create works commissioned by the City of Marseille, such as the world premiere of J.C Petit's opera Colomba in March 2014.

Since the 12-13 season, Lawrence Foster has been Music Director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille, giving new impetus to the orchestral phalanx and enabling it to be invited to China and to the Bad-Kissingen Festival, among other events.

Renowned conductors such as P. Arrivabeni, S. Baudo, O. Caetani, J.C. Casadesus, M. Inoue, A. Jordan, D. Klajner, P. Kogan, T. León, K. Montgomery, T. Vetö, E. Pidó, F. Pleyer, N. Santi, E. Villaume, L. Langrée, M. Shanahan, M. Schonwandt, P. Steinberg, J. Webb, L. Acocella, C. Simone, T. Guschlbauer, K. Weise... To accompany internationally renowned soloists such as R. Alagna, P. Ciofi, A. Georghiu, A.C. Antonacci, M. Devia, L. Tezier, O. Borodina, M. Delunsch, N. Dessay, J. Amoyal, N. Angelich, M. Bourgue, F. Braley, R. and G. Capuçon, J.P. Collard, M. Dalberto, A. Dohmen, F.R. Duchâble, B. Engerer, D. Guerrier, J. Gilad, Y. Ivanov, S. Katchatryan, L. Korcia, M. Portal, A.R. El Bacha, V. Urmana, J. Van Dam, D. Zajick, , P. Meyer, J.C. Pennetier, J.P. Collard, B. Chamayou, C. Katsaris, N. Radulovic, M. Rudy, E. Steinbecher...

In addition, the Philharmonic Orchestra takes part in the Opera's activities aimed at young audiences, schoolchildren, university students, the disabled, etc. It also collaborates with other theaters and festivals, and has taken part in recordings with L. Schifrin, DD. Bridgewater, J. Migenes, H. Tomasi's Requiem pour la paix and Les fanfares liturgiques; various television recordings such as Christophe Colomb by D. Milhaud, Marius et Fanny by Vladimir Cosma with R. Alagna and A. Georghiu; Le Cid by J. Massenet with R. Alagna and B. Uria-Monzon, to audio broadcasts with France Musique: Colombe by J.M Damase, L'Aiglon by A. Honneger and J. Ibert; La Chartreuse de Parme by H. Sauguet with N. Manfrino and S. Gueze, Cléopâtre by J. Massenet, La Straniera by V. Bellini with P. Ciofi, L. Tezier, K. Deshayes, Les Troyens by H. Berlioz with R. Alagna and B. Uria-Monzon...

In February 2014, composer Richard Galliano was awarded the title of "Composer of the Year" at the 21st Victoires de la Musique Classique awards for his work Fables of Tuba, commissioned by the Opéra de Marseille and premiered by the Marseille Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille is a member of the Association française des Orchestres (AFO).