Grand Opera, Parliament, and common sense

The recent barrage of letters are mostly in favour of building on the site of the Opera House in Valletta and against having Parliament there.

The conoscenti and glitterati seem to be united in their views on what should be done. Yet, in private, many others of the same ilk think the Prime Minister's idea makes 'eminent sense'.

Those who think otherwise do not seem to take into consideration the financial implications. Perhaps it is my background in accountancy and finance which causes me to be fearful of such a foolish extravaganza as building an opera house.

Several of your correspondents have made the point that most, if not all, European capital cities have an opera house. Would it not make more sense to ask how many communities as small as ours boast an opera house?

It is good to be proud of our charming capital city, but comparison with Rome, Milan, London, Paris, Berlin, or Vienna in terms of what is affordable and viable, is frankly ludicrous.

Madeline Gera's excellent contribution in The Sunday Times (January 4), makes the point that so many historical buildings are occupied by ministries, when they would be put to much better use as historical and cultural sites where their beauty would be opened up for all to enjoy.

The Prime Minister's plan to move Parliament from the Palace to the derelict opera site is surely a step in the right direction, as advocated by Ms Gera. If her views are heard, and they should be then the ministries should be shifted to less historically and culturally-valuable premises.

Her point about the urgent need for a Museum of Modern Art should also be heeded and acted upon by the powers-that-be.

Finally, it is astonishing that so many of your 'pro-opera house' correspondents would like to see the Barry Opera House rebuilt as it was. It was surely a ghastly Victorian monstrosity, totally out-of-keeping with the warm baroque architecture of Valletta. To me, it is reminiscent of those cold mausoleums, the headquarters of the old clearing banks, in the City of London. On the whole, I think the Luftwaffe did us a favour.