Italian insularity

Italian Insularity is even more pernicious than other kinds. By that I mean that Italians tend to regard everything that happens abroad as of lesser quality, especially in the operatic field. In this they couldn't be more wrong.

Take the example of the Welsh National Opera. If Italians have any opinion of the WNO it is as some provincial company that isn't worth consideration but I have news for the Italian operatic world. They should go and experience a couple of performances by WNO before ignoring them because more often than not they are of a higher standard than anything you can hear or see in Italy, even in the case of Italian opera.

Am I exhibiting British insularity here? I think not. Years ago, Carlo Rizzi found himself conducting 'La traviata' both at La Fenice and in Cardiff at the same time. He told me that his WNO Violetta was being paid the same as the Commissionario (a tiny role consisting of one line) in Venice and yet the WNO performances were better.

I can list some terrible Italian productions I have seen but no great ones to rival Peter Stein's work at WNO including 'Pelleas' with Boulez conducting, 'Otello' and 'Falstaff,' 'Peter Grimes' etc. Also Rudolf Noelte's 'Bartered Bride,' Harry Kupfer's 'Elektra,' Joachim Hert's 'Butterfly', the 'Frau ohne Schatten,' Goodall conducting Wagner and so forth. All unsurpassed in Italy I believe. And that's just one 'provincial' company in the UK.

let me know if I am wrong.