The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) has released its 2022 Annual Report, revealing a steady return to pre-pandemic engagement levels and a resurgence in annual box office revenue bolstered by significant support from the Victorian and Federal governments.

The report shows the MSO’s annual box office revenue jumped to $10m in 2022, up from $3.7m in 2021 and $2.9m in 2020, with an additional $4.5m in support from State and Federal governments.

The MSO returned a slender operational surplus of $76,889.

MSO Chief Conductor Jaime Mártin. Photo supplied

The orchestra played 148 performances, reaching a live audience of 230,954 music lovers who returned to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, concert halls, regional arts centres, and outdoor spaces across Victoria. It performed 135 Australian works and featured 138 guest Australian artists, soloists, and ensembles across the 2022 season.

The orchestra also performed 12 commissioned works from Australian composers, including MSO Composer in Residence Paul Grabowsky, Bianca Gannon, MSO Cybec Young Composer in Residence Alex Turley and Melissa Douglas, among many others.

The MSO also undertook its first full regional tour since the pandemic, traveling around Victoria and across the border into...