Audiences for Orchestral Music: Challenges New and Old. The Cases of Germany and Poland

Technological change has impacted orchestral music for over a century,
with the demise of orchestral concert audiences in their familiar
form being considered by some at various times to be under threat. Access
for classical music audiences however has increased over recent
decades through radio, albums, and tapes/CDs/DVDs, thereby increasing
the potential for large increases in classical music listener/viewer
audiences. In the case of albums and tapes/CDs/DVDs, audiences have
control over what and when they tune in, whereas in the case of radio,
the schedule is fixed for them. Besides, in-hall audiences, adjusted for
population, at orchestral concerts in Germany and Poland have been
increasing, but a small number of orchestras in each country dominate.
Technology has now made possible, through the live streaming of concerts,
not just into cinemas and similar venues but also directly into
homes, a potential substantial increase in live listening/viewing audiences;
the Berliner Philharmoniker is leading the way in this regard.