The Saint Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1967 by Nikolai Rabinovich, Karl Eliasberg, and Edward Grikurov. Initially known as the Orchestra of Ancient and Modern Music, it gained recognition through performances with renowned soloists and conductors such as Yuri Temirkanov, Mariss Jansons, and Sviatoslav Richter. In 1985, the orchestra expanded and became the Leningrad State Orchestra under Ravil Martynov, embarking on concert tours across various countries including China, Japan, and several European nations. From 2004 to 2007, the orchestra was led by Vasily Petrenko, a pupil of Martynov. Alexander Titov served as the artistic director and chief conductor from 2007 to 2013, during which time he recorded significant Russian compositions from the World War II era.