Orchestral music is part of the soundtrack of modern life according to a new audience report by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). Both long-established fans and people new to the genre enjoy orchestral music in a recorded format and in the concert hall. For most of the UK population, in one way or another it colours daily life.
Where people listen to orchestral music
Looking at how and where people enjoy orchestral music, the concert hall was the top venue (17%)—arguably the most immersive way for people to switch off from the demands of daily life and enjoy the unmatched magic of an in-the-moment live performance experience.
In addition, many people chose to listen to orchestral music when in the car or travelling to and from work on public transport. Beyond this, orchestral music colours familiar moments. Nationally, 16% of people said they choose to listen to classical music when getting creative in the kitchen; 12% prefer it as the music to have on when they are working or enjoying a book. For some, orchestral music supports relaxation, and for others it fires them up as part of a gym playlist.
The top 10 composers
Whilst video game, film music and music from musicals are popular with people discovering the genre, their list of favourite classical composers underscores the fact that the great, timeless masterworks are central to the full enjoyment of the orchestral genre.
- Mozart – 29%
- Beethoven – 28%
- Vivaldi – 21%
- Tchaikovsky – 20%
- JS Bach – 16%
- Chopin – 16%
- Debussy – 13%
- Brahms – 13%
- Handel – 12%
- Verdi – 11%
Vasily Petrenko, Music Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra comments: “Our research shows that many people are excited by the prospect of discovering orchestral music. It is not an historical genre; it is very much alive with a beating heart. This is in part powered by the musicians and the magic of the concert hall experience—but it is also down to the audience.”
“Our research makes clear once again that the audience is both enthusiastic and growing. From cooking and meditating, to exercising and gardening, a growing number of people are choosing to have orchestral music as part of the soundtrack of their daily routines and that is the spark that fuels an interest in a music journey which will ultimately express itself in a concert hall. At the RPO, we enjoyed record attendance at many of our concerts in 2024, evidence enough that something is also growing outside the concert hall. Our audience research confirms what we see in the concert hall.”