In Tune with the Masses: 84% Share the Desire for Orchestral Concerts, New Study Reveals

A new study has unveiled a burgeoning interest in attending orchestral concerts within the general population, shedding light on an evolving cultural landscape. The survey involving 2,000 individuals, revealed that a resounding 84 percent of respondents expressed a keen desire to immerse themselves in orchestral music.

The new data originates from a comprehensive study conducted by the esteemed Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). Comparing these recent findings to a previous survey from 2018, which indicated a 79 percent interest in witnessing orchestral performances, underscores the notable growth in audience enthusiasm for live orchestral experiences.

James Williams, the Managing Director of the RPO, commented on this trend, noting, "Our latest data suggests the audience for live orchestral performance has expanded significantly over the past five years." Against the backdrop of the substantial disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to the arts between 2018 and 2023, Williams underscored the gratifying nature of these research results. He emphasised that this newfound insight would enable the orchestra to gain a deeper understanding of the diverse repertoire that can captivate audiences and entice them into concert halls.

These diverse repertoires include orchestral renditions of musical theatre classics, contemporary pop hits, and beloved film soundtracks. Intriguingly, these findings align with the surge of classical music on platforms like TikTok. The platform has been flooded with captivating clips of candlelit concerts, featuring string quartets performing chart-toppers by artists such as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Additionally, live orchestral performances accompanying film screenings have become a prominent trend on TikTok.

The survey results also highlighted that 24 percent of respondents with no prior exposure to orchestral music expressed a strong interest in attending concerts featuring film music. Furthermore, among those with limited knowledge of classical music but a curiosity to explore it, a substantial 42 percent were drawn to orchestral concerts infused with popular music.

Recognising this newfound gateway into the world of orchestral music, James Williams, the Managing Director of the RPO, emphasised, "After a profoundly challenging period for the orchestral world, including venue closures during the Covid-19 pandemic and uncertainties regarding arts funding, our focus is on rebuilding public confidence in concerts and expanding the future orchestral audience."

In addition to the surge in interest in film, TV, and popular music genres, the study uncovered that nearly a quarter (24 percent) of the entire sample expressed interest in attending concerts featuring traditional classical music. Notably, this percentage was significantly higher among long-time concertgoers, with 52 percent naming classical music as their genre of choice.

Williams commented on this noteworthy finding, saying, "A striking discovery from our latest research was that between 10-20% of all respondents expressed a desire to experience traditional repertoire as part of a broader concert mix." He concluded, "Our role as an orchestra is not to dictate what people should listen to; instead, we aim to nurture a journey of musical discovery.."