The orchestra was founded in Poznań in 1993 by violin players Ewa Golińska and Aureliusz Goliński, who brought together a group of talented young Polish musicians playing on historical instruments. The core of the ensemble was originally formed by string and continuo players from Poland, but over the years the orchestra has become more international, featuring musicians from, among others, Germany, England, the Netherlands, France, and Ireland. In 1998, the orchestra initiated an extensive series of early music events which evolved into the Early Music–Persona Grata, a festival now widely recognised in Poland. Arte dei Suonatori is also the cofounder and coorganiser of several other festivals.
The orchestra regularly works with distinguished soloists and conductors from all over the world, with whom they have recorded for some of Europe’s best known record labels, including BIS, Alpha, and Channel Classics. Many of their recordings have won prestigious awards such as Diapason d’Or, Choc du Monde de la Musique, Luister 10, 10 de Répertoire, Classics Today, and Classic CD. Their disc of Vivaldi’s La stravaganza, featuring Rachel Podger as soloist, won the 2003 Baroque Disc of the Year Gramophone Award.