achtrack’s annual Classical Music Statistics 2022 announce signs of a gradual return towards pre-Covid activity levels. Overall the 2022 statistics show a classical music world that is gradually bouncing back from the disruptions of Coronavirus – and at the same time is responding positively to demands to show greater commitment to gender parity and the inclusion of living artists.
Most countries around the world have increased performances of works by 20th-century and living composers. Maurice Ravel’s La Valse (in versions for orchestra, solo piano and piano duet), composed in 1919, tops the list of most-performed concert works with 133 performances listed on Bachtrack – above Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Mahler’s First Symphony in second and third slots. Maurice Ravel and Richard Strauss both appear in the top ten most performed composers this year, climbing several places.
Sweden and the USA program the largest percentage of 20th-century works, at 43% and 37% respectively, with the Netherlands just behind on 36%, the UK on 34% and Spain on 33%. Belgium and the USA program the largest percentage of 21st century works, 15%. Estonian Arvo Pärt tops the list of most performed living composers – regaining the title he lost to John Williams in 2018 and 2019 – but the list is dominated by composers from the US and the UK, with 27 Americans and 24 British, including Thomas Adès, Sir James MacMillan, John Rutter and Graham Fitkin, making the top 100.
Gender parity for composers is improving. There are now nine women composers in the top 20 most performed living composers – in 2019 there was only one and in 2013 there were none at all in the top 200.
Of the top 100 busiest conductors, 12 are women, an improvement from only one in 2013.
