 McMaster was followed as chief executive by Matthew Epstein , whose three years in charge ( 1991 – 94 ) were described in a 2006 study by Paul Atkinson as " a less happy and less successful period " . Epstein was replaced by Anthony Freud , under whom , according to Atkinson , productions became " consistently strong , musically well prepared , intelligently staged and well cast . " Mackerras was succeeded in 1992 by Carlo Rizzi , who was music director at the time of WNO 's golden jubilee in 1996 . When the occasion was marked with a new production of the " Cav and Pag " double bill that had launched the company in 1946 , the BBC commented that WNO was " one of the most respected opera companies in the world " . In The Observer , Michael Ratcliffe called the company " the most popular , populist and consistently successful arts organisation ever to come out of Wales ... with the loyalty and affection of audiences in Cardiff and across England … ' The people 's opera ' is not a myth . It happened here . " The jubilee celebrations were overshadowed by the collapse of a plan for a purpose @-@ built home for the company , the Cardiff Bay Opera House . 
 McMaster was followed as chief executive by Matthew Epstein , whose three years in charge ( 1991 – 94 ) <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> described in a 2006 study by Paul Atkinson as " a less happy and less successful period " . Epstein was replaced by Anthony Freud , under whom , according to Atkinson , productions became " consistently strong , musically well prepared , intelligently staged and well cast . " Mackerras was succeeded in 1992 by Carlo Rizzi , <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a>was music director at the time of WNO <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>golden jubilee in 1996 . When the occasion was marked with a new production of the " Cav and Pag " double bill <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>had</mark></a> launched the company in 1946 , the BBC commented that WNO was " one of the most respected opera companies in the world " . In The Observer , Michael Ratcliffe called the company " the most popular , populist and consistently successful arts organisation ever to come out of Wales ... with the loyalty and affection of audiences in Cardiff and across England … ' The people <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>opera ' <a href='negative_concord' title='7'><mark>is</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='8'><mark>not</mark></a><a href='None' title='9'><mark>a</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='10'><mark>myth</mark></a> . It happened here . " The jubilee celebrations <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>were</mark></a> overshadowed by the collapse of a plan for a purpose @-@ built home for the company , the Cardiff Bay Opera House . 
McMaster was followed as chief executive by Matthew Epstein , whose three yrs in charge ( 1991 – 94 ) was described in a 2006 study by Paul Atkinson as " a less happy and less successful period " . Epstein was replaced by Anthony Freud , under whom , according to Atkinson , productions became " consistently strong , musically well prepared , intelligently staged and well cast . " Mackerras was succeeded in 1992 by Carlo Rizzi , was music director at the time of WNO  golden jubilee in 1996 . When the occasion was marked with a new production of the " Cav and Pag " double bill done launched da company in 1946 , tdaBBC commented that WNO was " one of the most respected opera companies in thdaorld " . In Thedaserver , micheal Ratcliffe called the dapany " the most popular , populist and consistently successful arts organisation eva to cum out of Wales ... w the loyalty and affection of audiences in Cardiff and across England … ' The pda opera ' ain't no myth . It happened here . " The jubilee celebrations was overshadowed by the collapse of a plan for a purpose @-@ built home for the company , the Cardiff Bay Opera krib .