The Slovak Philharmonic was founded in 1949 as the first Slovak professional state symphony orchestra. Its personal development was directed, dramaturgically built and interpretationally formed by important personalities of the international music life Vaclav Talich (in 1949-1952 he was the composer-in-chief of SP, he has worked mainly with the chamber orchestra SP), Ludovít Rajter (in SP in 1949-1976, with a short break in 1952-1953, when Tibor Frešo was the conductor-in-chief). Art profile of the orchestra has been formed by further conductors-in-chief and important artists - Ladislav Slovák (1961-1981), later Libor Pešek, Vladimír Verbickij, Bystrik Režucha a Aldo Ceccato. Since the beginning of the 1991-1992 season Ondrej Lenárd is the conductor-in-chief of the Slovak Philharmonic.

Many important foreign conductors have been at the head of the SP - as guests - during many years: C. Abbado, J. Belohlávek, S. Celbidache, J. Conlon, Ch. v. Dohnányi, V. Fedosejev, M. Jansons, P. Keuschnig, F. Konwitschny, Z. Košler, A. Lombard, K. Masur, Sir Y. Menuhin, R. Muti, V. Neumann, A. Pedrotti, A. Rahbari, K. Sanderling, L. Slatkin, O. Suitner, R. Weikert, C. Zecchi and many others. Also composers as interprets of their own works - K. Penderecki and A. Chacaturian.