Founded in October 1966, in over 50 years of activity the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto has established itself as one of the leading Italian orchestras. The only Concert-Orchestral Institution active in Veneto, OPV produces about 120 concerts and operas every year, with its own season in Padua, concerts in the Veneto Region and for the most important Concert and Festival companies in Italy and abroad. The artistic and musical direction of the Orchestra has been entrusted to Claudio Scimone (from its foundation to 1983), Peter Maag (principal conductor, 1983-2001), Bruno Giuranna, Guido Turchi, Mario Brunello (musical director, 2002-2003), Filippo Juvarra and from September 2015 to Marco Angius in the role of musical and artistic director.OPV includes collaborations with the most famous names in international concert music, including S. Accardo, M. Argerich, V. Ashkenazy, I. Bostridge, R. Chailly, G. Gavazzeni, R. Goebel, P. Herreweghe, C. Hogwood, S. Isserlis, L. Kavakos, T. Koopman, R. Lupu, M. Maisky, Sir N. Marriner, Mullova, O. Mustonen, A.S. Mutter, M. Perahia, I. Perlman, S. Richter, M. Rostropovich, K. Zimerman.

In the 2015/2016 season, based on the idea of Marco Angius, OPV hosted Salvatore Sciarrino as composer in residence realizing the first cycle of OPV musical Iectures Lezioni di Suono, an experience that was then renewed in the following seasons with Ivan Fedele, Giorgio Battistelli and Nicola Sani. Also in 2016, the complete performance of Beethoven's Symphonies conducted by Angius as part of the "Ludwig van Festival" was met with an exceptional consensus from the public and critics, confirmed in 2017 with the complete Schubert Symphonies.In recent years the Orchestra has expanded its commitment in the educational field, developing innovative programs for the public of families and children and training courses dedicated to preschools.

Alongside the symphonic experience, the Orchestra has also distinguished itself in the operatic repertoire, enjoying unanimous appreciation in various productions of Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, Die Zauberflöte by Mozart, Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, II barbiere di Siviglia, II Turco in ltalia and La Cenerentola by Rossini, Norma and I Capuleti e Montecchi by Bellini, L'elisir d'amore, Don Pasquale, Lucrezia Borgia, Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti, Rigoletto and II trovatore by Verdi, Die lustige Witwe by Lehar.

The Orchestra is protagonist of a large series of television broadcasts for the main national public broadcasting company of Italy RAI with the four cycles of Lezioni di Suono, with Immortali Amate integral of the Beethoven’s concertos for piano and orchestra, with Inori by Stockhausen and Sconcerto by Battistelli, as well as a huge record business that counts more than 60 recordings for the most important labels. Among the most recent publications the Concerts for piano and orchestra by C.P.E. Bach with Orazio Sciortino (Amadeus); Mozart's Concerts for Violin and Orchestra with Sonig Tchakerian (Universal); Quodlibet with MUSIC by Castiglioni, Abyss with music by Donatoni, An Mathilde with music by Dallapiccola and Togni and L’arte della fuga by Bach / Scherchen (Stradivarius), Altri volti e nuovi 1 e 2 dedicated to the work of Salvatore Sciarrino (Decca Italy); Tempestate with music by Nicola Sani (world premiére recording, Stradivarius); Wagner | Sciarrino with the first world recording of Wagner's Wesendonck-Lieder in the Italian translation by Arrigo Boito (Brilliant Classics) all conducted by Marco Angius. In 2022 was released the album Musiche per il Paradiso di Dante by Sciarrino, welcomed by international critics and winner of the prestigious Coup de Coeur 2022 International Award.

On September 3rd, 2023 the Orchestra will be performing at the Lucerne Festival under the baton of M° Wolfram Christ and with the legendary soloist Sabine Mayer.