International networks in cultural industries: the case of agencies for opera artists in the immediate post-COVID-19 period

Abstract This study presents an empirical investigation into the internationalization processes within the opera performing arts industry, which represents a critical component of the broader creative industries. By utilizing data from Operabase, a comprehensive online database of opera-related information, we employ social network analysis to delineate the network of connections established between nations through the mobility of opera artists, mediated by the agencies that represent them. Moreover, the research assesses the influence of factors such as geographical proximity, cultural affinity, market dominance, and reciprocity on these international networks. Our findings provide a nuanced understanding of the internationalization of opera, emphasizing the significance of geographical proximity, reciprocity, and (partially) tradition/dominance in the opera market as key drivers of global interconnectedness in this domain.