The classical music audience is back
The corona-related audience crisis has clearly been overcome, at least in the classical music sector. This is the conclusion drawn by the German Music and Orchestra Association in unison when looking at the current audience figures for numerous classical music events.
According to unisono Managing Director Gerald Mertens, the fact that 60% of classical music events were underutilized in the nationwide unisono trend analysis last winter is now history. The positive trend is confirmed by numerous reports: the Komische Oper Berlin closed its season with 90% capacity utilization, the Mozart Festival in Würzburg achieved a record 94.2% in July, and the Kissinger Sommer is currently also reporting record audience numbers compared to before the pandemic with 80% capacity utilization.
The fact that tickets for the Bayreuth Festival are still available a few days before the premiere is an isolated case that is due to a lack of marketing and extremely high ticket prices. The influx of classical open-air events is also promising and even promising: "Staatsoper für alle" on Bebelplatz in Berlin reached 33,000 visitors, "Klassik airleben 2023" by the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig 35,000 visitors and the Hannover Klassik Open Air at Maschpark set a new record last weekend with 35,000 visitors.
