In Petrozavodsk there is a major concert institution, active in the development of musical-concert activity - state Philharmonic. It is located on Kirov street in a modern building, which houses a Large concert hall on 481. In the spacious lobby of the second floor hosts a display of paintings, photographs, drawings, works of applied art.

In the Philharmonic hall following the concert bands, the Symphony orchestra of Russian folk instruments "Onega". Artistic Director and principal conductor of these teams are Marius Stravinsky and Gennady Mironov - honored worker of culture of the Karelian Republic honored worker of arts of the Russian Federation. The division, which includes various ensembles and soloists called touring Philharmonic, there are departments - marketing and musical enlightenment.

This territory has long had its own musical traditions, but only in January 1939 the Council of people's Commissars was created by the State of the Karelo-Finnish Philharmonic. Previously, she was on Karl Marx and consisted Symphony orchestra, the ensemble of folk song and dance ensemble "Kantele, vocal-pop band, State choir, the Philharmonic hall was then about 300 people.

Since the founding of the Philharmonic became the center of musical life. In October 1939 she opened her first official musical season. And after that regularly conducted Symphony concerts, they performed the best works of foreign and Russian classical music, there were works of Karelian authors.

From the first months of the war, the Philharmonic organized several concert brigades, which gave concerts of classical music, with works by poets, composers of Karelia on the points of mobilization, the construction of defensive structures. The musicians in one hard a period gave more than 500 concerts. But since the end of 1941, the activities of the Philharmonic society was temporarily suspended. Some of the performers moved to the theater of Musical Comedy, ensemble "Kantele" evacuated in Belomorsk. Its activity Philharmonic restored in February 1944. Its membership was composed of State national ensemble "Kantele" and front-line team of artists.

In the postwar years, the Philharmonic has regularly engaged in musical and educational activities. Invited famous conductors, singers, instrumentalists. Concerts were held throughout the country, more than 28 settlements were reached through activities concert brigades. Opened music center, musical lectures attended other artists Philharmonic, in particular Leningrad. Karelian artists and performers awards: orders and medals, diplomas. The Philharmonic hall was part and pop groups, as well as chamber, vocal, instrumental, Opera and drama ensembles. From the earliest years the Philharmonic has supported creative connection with the musicians of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Russia and other countries, so Petrozavodsk audience has always been accessible art-known actors and performers.

Now in the Karelian Philharmonic concerts of Russian folk instruments Orchestra, Symphony orchestra, and the evening of pop and jazz music. Popular concerts at the tables and recitals. Children will be presented in lectures and musical baby musical tickets.

On the stage also hosts international festivals, this is the "Fall of the Lira" - the Days of chamber music, "Jazz caravan", "White nights of Karelia"."Window to Russia" was the title of all-Russian competition in 2001, where the Karelian Philharmonic received the award. Dmitry Likhachev, which was founded by the Congress of Russian intelligentsia. The First radio festival of symphonic and chamber orchestras of Russia held in 2002 became the winner of the Symphony orchestra of the Karelian Philharmonic, in the nomination "For creative reading of the works". In October 2009 were festive events dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Philharmonic society.