NYCO’s George Steel has “…a vision of gradually increasing productions, arriving at 10, with 40 performances…. the company would reach the 10-production benchmark by 2025…. Only about 10 percent of revenue this season is predicted to come from the box office, with the rest mainly provided by donors. The ratio does not change much over the…
By La Cieca
November 11, 2011 at 9:17 PM
O brother, wired art thou?
Shocker of the century! The New York Times reveals that Met singers are miked!
Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
A series of ones and zeroes
“I’m analytical, not wild,” Ms. Garanca told an interviewer in 2009.
Scarred for life
“…the stage is crowded with grumbling members of the old guard who aren’t renewing subscriptions, disenchanted reviewers, vendors of vitriol on blogs like Parterre Box…”
The sound of two hands clapping
If it’s in the New York Times, it must be true, right?
All for the best
George Steel announces that New York City Opera is destroying, giving away or selling off most of its stock of repertory productions.
The case of the missing Amelia
“In the space of a few words, the leading role in a major new production had been reassigned. But why?”
The shock of the new
“The article also referred imprecisely to offerings in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2012-13 season.”
Wer nicht mit dem Woolfe heult
Zachary Woolfe (not pictured) makes his way to Bayreuth to try to unravel the Evgeny Nikitin mystery.
Closet drama
I have a confession to make about Britten’s opera Billy Budd: I don’t like it very much.”
Tony award
For decades New York City Opera was a model of an organization with a clear mission.
Mouth feel
“The bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni, playing Leporello in the Met’s recent Don Giovanni, asked for vegetable sausage…”
Ghost boaster
Can a day pass without the New York Times‘ 24/7 coverage of the Met’s Ring getting on yet another of La Cieca’s nerves?
Screen and screen again
The New York Times sends cub reporter (Get it? Cub reporter! Oh, La Cieca is killing herself with the puns!) Zachary Woolfe to the movie palaces of the heartland.
How sharper than a serpent’s tooth
“The Met’s new Ring is the most frustrating opera production I have ever had to grapple with.”
Eye rolling
It turns out we were wrong all along, cher public: the Robert Lepage production of the Ring at the Met is in fact a triumph.
Ass backwards
Zachary Woolfe went to Las Vegas and all we got was a thoughtful analysis of why Robert Lepage was never a good fit for the Ring.
Damage control
Just in time for the beginning of the first cycle of the Robert Lepage Ring (pictured), Peter Gelb tries to convince Anthony Tommasini that everything is just fine, thank you…
Take the Monnaie and run
“Though Mr. Herheim’s work is rigorous, it is also fun, and this Rusalka is serious but the opposite of dour.”
Achromatic scale
In honor of Martin Luther King day (belated), the New York Times hosts a discussion about the current Broadway production of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. As a bold gesture toward diversity and inclusion, the keynote speakers range from Anthony Tommasini to Ben Brantley.
“Afraid? Am I afraid?”
George Steel has called for a mediator (pictured) to attempt to summon the departed spirit of the New York City Opera. [New York Times]
The 500 Hats of Peter Gelb
Is Peter Gelb wearing too many hats? Anthony Tommasini seems to think so, adding that one of those headpieces in particular is ill-fitting and might perhaps more flatteringly perch upon some other head. Call La Cieca suspicious, but she thinks the timing of this piece is hardly an accident.
The Ten Percent Solution
NYCO’s George Steel has “…a vision of gradually increasing productions, arriving at 10, with 40 performances…. the company would reach the 10-production benchmark by 2025…. Only about 10 percent of revenue this season is predicted to come from the box office, with the rest mainly provided by donors. The ratio does not change much over the…
Lieder of the pack
La Cieca is always happy (if a little envious) when another critic expresses exactly how she feels about a musical event (such as Jonas Kaufmann‘s recital last Sunday at the Met) because that means she doesn’t have to blather on and on about it. Instead she can simply reply, “Check out what Zachary Woolfe has…
Passaggio/fail basis
Not only has physical therapy healed Mariusz Kwiecien‘s shapely back, it’s apparently added a third to the top of his range. [New York Times]
Bernie Williams and Jonathan Tetelman take over Carnegie Hall for one night.
Bernie Williams and Jonathan Tetelman take over Carnegie Hall for one night.
Bernie Williams and Jonathan Tetelman take over Carnegie Hall for one night.
You’ll be fine.
You’ll be fine.
Left of Center
Settling scores
Get our free newsletter
Opera's top reads delivered to your email weekly…ish.
Join over 100k readers.
The best opera magazine on the web.
Reviews, breaking news, critical essays, and brainrot commentary on opera from those demented enough to love it.
Essentials
Social
Contact
Editorial
Advertising/partnerships
All other inquiries
Copyright © 2026 Parterre Box.
All rights reserved. Registration or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions and our Privacy Policy.