In 2022, the European opera industry represented a value of nearly 10 billion euros and 13 million people attended an opera performance. The umbrella organization Opera Europa announced these figures on the occasion of World Opera Day today. OBV can also present excellent figures for 2022.
The European opera sector is recovering after the difficult Covid years. This is evident from a survey by Opera Europa among its 234 members in 44 countries.
In 2022, European opera houses presented more than 20,000 performances of 3,500 productions and reached an audience of 13 million people, including 2 million young people.
The economic impact of the opera sector is therefore significant. The sector provides employment for approximately 200,000 people, half of whom are in permanent positions. This often involves professional musicians and singers in orchestras and choirs, as well as the work of passionate and specialized craftspeople in set and costume workshops.
Opera Europa views the future of the genre optimistically and predicts that the sector will continue to grow in the coming years thanks to investments in world premieres, young artists, and new ways to reach a diverse audience. (You can find the full press release from Opera Europa in the attachment.)
But what about Flanders?
Opera Ballet Vlaanderen welcomed no fewer than 127,616 visitors in the 2022-2023 season and saw revenue grow by an average of 33 percent compared to the previous five relevant seasons. 9 percent of these visitors came from abroad. OBV employs 450 full-time equivalents.
Opera Europa announces these figures on the occasion of World Opera Day. This day, the birthday of composers George Bizet and Johann Strauss, celebrates the achievements and cultural and social importance of opera. According to the organization, these figures underscore that importance. Opera Europa also calls the genre an important and unifying cornerstone of the cultural project that the European Union represents.