original_query: What was the artistic climate like in London compared to Italy?
query: What was the artistic climate like in London compared to Italy during the mid-18th century, specifically regarding opera?
answer: In the mid-18th century, Italy was the center of operatic activity, with major theaters in several cities and a long, rich history of opera, while London was more remote from these centers, with a shorter and less continuous history of opera, resulting in a less enthusiastic public and greater financial challenges for opera productions.