Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

The tendency to rank—to create subjective lists of best or greatest, or to organize things in ascending or descending order—is a human compulsion.

By on October 23, 2017 at 9:10 AM
49 comments
Number one with an axe Number one with an axe

Here you are, cher public, your ten most popular parterre box postings (by numbers of pageviews) for the week of September 27-October 3, 2015.  

By on October 05, 2015 at 9:00 AM
1 comment
Towards zero Towards zero

Our Own JJ (not pictured) counts down his 10 favorite New York opera performances of 2013 in the New York Observer.

By on December 19, 2013 at 8:00 PM
72 comments
Steam heat? Steam heat?

Tenor Vittorio Grigolo, easy on the eyes despite the fright wig, is one of the “Hottest Opera Stars Of 2013.”

By on January 26, 2013 at 2:47 AM
87 comments

Adroit, awesome, autononomous Anne Midgette nominates her Top 10 Classical and Opera Releases of 2010 over at Soundcheck, and, La Cieca thinks to herself, why should Anne have all the fun? What are your favorite opera CDs and DVDs of the year, cher public? (Here are a few reviews to jog your memory.)

By on December 16, 2010 at 2:20 PM
99 comments

Congratulations to Rysanekfreak (pictured), contributor of the best top ten list in La Cieca’s Oughty But Nice competition. The ‘Freak’s somewhat meta compilation was entitled The Top Ten Participants I Have Most Enjoyed Reading on Parterre Box During the Last Decade. Rysanekfreak will receive a $100 gift card from amazon.com. 

By on January 16, 2010 at 11:17 AM
6 comments

La Cieca reminds the cher public: you still have one week to come up with a top ten list about the decade from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2009, with the winner taking home a $100 Amazon gift card.

By on December 23, 2009 at 10:20 PM
53 comments

1. DON’T STAGE THE OVERTURE. Surprise: Verdi and Rossini and Wagner Mozart actually worked in the theater most of their lives, so give them credit for knowing that the overture is there to get the audience in the mood, to ease their transition from “outside” to “inside.”

By on December 10, 2009 at 8:11 AM
79 comments

La Cieca is putting her entire nest egg into popcorn futures, since next season opera lovers will rarely emerge from their local movie palace. The Met will do an astonishing 11 HD simulcasts during the 2008-2009 season.  Monday, September 22, 2008: Opening Night Gala starring the astonishingly well-preserved Renée Fleming in fully staged performances of La Traviata (Act…

By on April 22, 2008 at 3:48 PM
65 comments

As you may recall, last year the BBC Music Magazine published a list of “The 20 Greatest Sopranos of All Time,” and one or two of you didn’t quite see eye to eye with their selection. Well, this year they’ve turned their attention to the top 20 among tenors, who are (in ascending order of…

By on March 09, 2008 at 11:32 AM
152 comments