Opera house plans

Minister Francis Zammit Dimech's idea to turn the ruins of the Old Opera House into an open air performing place is a rather hideous one specially when he compares it to the magnificent Roman-built arena in Verona, as mentioned in The Times of August 18.

The Minister said the seating capacity would be increased to 1,200 rather than the 1,000 erected for the arts and culture performances of August. I was present when the National Orchestra played its concert. The walking space between each row was barely three inches wide and one had to topple on top of seated guests or move the row of seats some inches forward to get to one's numbered seat.

It was a very dangerous situation; if anything were to happen during a performance there would be chaos as people tried to get to safety.

The Royal Opera House is a definite eyesore in Freedom Square and an insult to the magnificent Palazzo Ferreria and St James Cavalier. The only solution is to rebuild the Royal Opera House in its full former glory. It is high time that this plan is placed as a priority on the government's agenda after 65 long years when the ruins were used as a parking place and a urinal up to the present day.

The Malta Arts Council needs to be highly commended for having made Valletta come alive temporarily, but the government needs to start preparing plans to reconstruct this ugly site. Our thoughts about making this site sustainable and viable had long been forecasted because we have always believed in our Maltese and Gozitan talent, who could further enhance their career prospects with the newly rebuilt Opera House.

Heartfelt thanks should also go to all the sponsors who believe in this kind of project. We should be very grateful for their financial support of any kind of spectacle. Investing in this project would also be very welcome. In the coming budget, the government could subsidise our long-awaited Opera House from the funds paid from the pockets of the people of Malta and Gozo. Minister Zammit Dimech should push this reconstruction project without any further delay as Malta truly deserves to have this artistic monument placed once again in the splendour of the entrance to Valletta, our World Heritage European City.