Bachtrack’s year in review

As the leading global source for classical music, opera and dance performances, Bachtrack’s Annual Classical Music Statistics offer a valuable window into the performing arts world, and this year, they’ve gone one better, unveiling a decade-spanning analysis, shedding light on the evolving landscape of classical music.

In 2023, the platform listed an impressive 31,309 events, a milestone that paved the way for a comprehensive examination of the state of the world’s classical music scene.

The most notable shift over the last decade is the increasing prominence of music by living composers in concert halls worldwide. Contemporary music has surged from 6% to 14% of all programmed works since 2013, with several countries, including the UK, US, Sweden and The Netherlands, exceeding this average.

The demand for greater equity has seen a rise in the number of works by female composers being performed, with 22 of the top 200 most-performed composers in 2023 being women, up from a mere 2 in 2013.

While women conductors have made progress, securing 12% of conductor roles in 2023, the top echelons of orchestral leadership remain male-dominated. Only seven of Bachtrack’s 102 orchestras listed have women conductors in Principal Conductor or Music Director positions, highlighting persistent challenges at the summit of orchestral hierarchy.

In the realm of choreography, women face a steeper uphill battle. Despite Sharon Eyal being the sole woman among the top 20 most frequently listed choreographers, the number of women in the top 100 has seen minimal improvement.

While there is much to celebrate in this report, the sector continues to grapple with certain areas of inertia, something that needs to be addressed this year by both artistic directors and audiences.

To read the full report, visit https://bachtrack.com/classical-music-statistics-2023