A trust to run the opera house (3)

Three years ago (October 30, 2005) The Sunday Times published a letter of mine about restoring the Royal Opera House after more than 60 years as a wartime bombsite. At that time, I was on a visit to Malta with a cruise ship and as an opera singer myself I was disappointed to see the old theatre in its forlorn state.

Although Malta has now joined the EU and looks forward to continued economic growth, no progress has been made on the opera house site.

Malta plans to attract more international financial services and create a higher cultural model. What better emblem of this cultural revival could there be than an international opera house which would capitalise on Malta's historic status as the strategic Mediterranean hub and thereby act as a positive link with the European and north African economies?

It would certainly be unfortunate if this important site became the location for the proposed expansion of Italian supermarkets or something similar. A blot of this kind would by no means enhance Valletta's current status as a Unesco World Heritage site.

Instead, the restored opera house would be a worthy platform for the celebration of local talent, such as soprano Miriam Gauci and tenor Joseph Calleja.

Looking on from the distant viewpoint of London I can certainly see the positive role a restored opera house would play in Malta's future and I hope it will not be a further three years before someone recognises this and takes action.