Ranked lists are intended to lend what sure feels like objective authority to a retrospective appraisal of the year (why else involve numbers?). But, reader, never do I feel more distinctly subjective than when attempting to sort my year of musical experiences into a tidy top 10. Although orchestras and opera companies are still struggling to regain and retain their pre-pandemic audiences, 2023 was a year with so much to hear — big performances, exciting premieres and promising signs for the state of the art in the year to come.
