Yannik Nézét-Séguin
(c) George Etheredge

Bachtrack has published their observations based on the concert, opera and dance performances in 2025. Yannick Nézet-Séguin tops the list of busiest conductors, with an amazing 120 listed engagements. Other names at the top of the list – Andris Nelsons, Gustavo Dudamel, Klaus Mäkelä – are also consistently busy.

Also on the increase is the number of countries to which conductors, soloists and orchestras travel. Daniel Harding performed in 16 different countries over the year, while Paavo Järvi, Iván Fischer and Myung-whun Chung were not far behind, appearing in 14 and 13 countries respectively.

Jan Lisiecki
(c) Sébastien Grébille

Soloists are also big travelers, with pianist Jan Lisiecki notching up performances in 16 countries, and András Schiff just behind on 15.

European orchestras were similarly well-travelled. The Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker and Budapest Festival Orchestra each visited 11 countries in 2025.

Notably, the UK has tumbled from the second most frequently toured country in 2016 to sixth in the rankings. In 2025, the number of touring ensembles visiting the UK declined from 82 to 50, dwarfed by Germany’s 123 in the same year. With new restrictions and visa requirements since Brexit, the UK’s connectedness to the rest of the world, via the movement of musicians and creatives in and out of the country, appears under threat.

Beethoven, Mozart and Bach are still favorites among composers, although Maurice Ravel came in strongly in fourth place in 2025, helped by celebrations of his 150th anniversary.

The Bachtrack report also mentions the steady rise of women composers over the past decade. In 2016, there were only seven women among the top 250 most-performed composers, living and dead. By 2025, this had risen to 30 out of the top 250, eight among the top 100.

Rebecca Clarke

Clara Schumann and Lili Boulanger were the most performed women composers, with Kaija Saariaho, Rebecca Clarke, Grażyna Bacewicz, Hildegard von Bingen and Florence Price also popular with programmers. Anna Clyne was the most performed living woman composer, followed closely by Caroline Shaw.

Overall in contemporary music, Arvo Pärt was back on top as the most performed living composer.