Claudia Calleja
Opera house must stand again, centenarian insists
(Top left) Salvino and Maria Sullivan on their wedding day. (Top right) Salvino Sullivan served as a captain with the British Army.(Bottom) "Opera is just spectacular... It's history and art. It's a pity that, nowadays, young people have no clue about opera" - Salvino Sullivan. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier .
Sitting in his living room, Salvino Sullivan extends an arm in front of him and, with a tight, trembling fist, passionately closes his eyes and sings a few verses from Verdi's La Traviata.
"Opera is just spectacular... It is history and art. It's a pity that, nowadays, young people have no clue about opera," says Mr Sullivan, who celebrates his 100th birthday today.
His passion for the opera soon morphs into frustration and anger at the fact that Valletta's Royal Opera House has been left derelict for decades. This, he believes, resulted in a younger generation that is ignorant of opera and Malta's various governments across the years are to blame.
An avid reader of The Times, Mr Sullivan joins the ongoing debate about the site's future and remarks, "It is the government's duty to educate the people and expose them to opera... And I insist the opera house ruins should be rebuilt into the Royal Opera House and nothing else".
Last December, the debate was rekindled when the government announced the site would house a new Parliament building designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano. The building is also intended to house a cultural centre with a separate entrance.
"The opera house is history. It should be rebuilt into the Royal Opera House," he insists, as he thinks back to his younger days when he became infatuated with the music genre.
As a child, Mr Sullivan's parents would take him to the theatre or the opera. "I remember they would buy me a box of chocolates so I would be quiet while they watched the show," he giggles to himself.
When he grew into a young man, and started appreciating the music, he would go to the opera house alone to listen to a range of operas.
"At the time I could not afford much so I would go to the Wednesday matinee that was cheaper than the Saturday soiree," he recalls, singing excerpts from Verdi's Rigoletto and Aida.
The eldest of 16 children, Mr Sullivan attended St Aloysius College and decided to become a Jesuit priest. Three years into his preparation for priesthood he realised this was not the life he wanted.
"I could take the poverty and obedience vows... but chastity was not so easy," he jokes.
Soon after this decision, he fell in love with a young ballerina but circumstances forced them apart and he later learnt she had become a nun.
"After that I became a playboy. But, once I met my wife, she was the only woman for me," he says, fondly looking at a portrait of his Italian wife, Maria , who is 19 years younger than him.
As a young man, Mr Sullivan worked with his father's shipping business for some years and eventually enrolled as a volunteer in the British Army.
He was made captain of the intelligence corps and posted in Italy. When he was in Naples, the army requisitioned a villa in Torre del Greco that was inhabited by a family and their teenage daughter, Maria.
"I would smile at her from a distance... Then, one day, I met her in the villa's garden and told her I was being moved to Padua and asked her whether she wanted to join me. She said 'yes'."
The couple got married and had seven children. He left the army and worked with his family's shipping company in Malta.
By the time the couple settled in Malta the opera house had been bombed and reduced to ruins.
"My days on this earth are numbered but I do hope, for posterity, that the opera house is rebuilt," Mr Sullivan says.
As he looks back at the century that has been his lifetime, he notes that it has been an adventurous bunch of years. "Life has taught me that the most important thing is to be good to others," he says adding that, at 100, he still kneels down by his bed and prays every night.
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Robert Spiteri
Oct 27th 2010, 11:54
Not to mention that our bombed Theatre was one of the nicest theatres, though I heard not so good for the acoustics. Also tourism will always be our main income for the country and an open roof theatre or whatever foreign architects want to call it, is not adequate. We need a proper theatre for winter performances and also for summer performances. So please rebuild.. as was, with an architectural design of a Maltese for the internal modifications necessary. We do not need foreign experts in this regard, we have our own, stone masonry and architecture is certainly not something we lack on this island, we never have. (end of rant
Robert Spiteri
Oct 27th 2010, 11:53
I totally agree with Cpt. Sullivan, and hereby I would like to express my best birthday wishes. I know that posting this comment will be useless and falling on deaf ears, however as a young person who is proud of his country , I must comment on the Opera House. I was never brought up to love Opera, Ballet or classical music for that matter, and I guess the reason is that we never had the place to go for such performances.Most performances are left for an inadequate Conference Hall. Through the years I have lived in Italy, Austria and an amazing Russian Federation where culture is preserved also through music and cultural performances, and the response of the younger generation is so amazing. I used to sit back and have a drink with my foreign friends and apart from discussing the usual facebook, cars, clothes etc, there was always time to discuss cultural events and various classical performances we had seen during the week end.
JOSEPH TANTI
Jun 22nd 2009, 23:16
First of all Big Hands to Mr Sullivan for his 100th Birthday and for his strong faith. Young generation should keep this Man as an example and keep in ming that keeping you faith, love a genre of Music and believe that love your next one should keep you young at heart and look at the future with optimism. For these kind of people, like Mr. Sullivan, is a must to dedicate for them a public garden or dedicate a space for them in a public place so that people shall admire them for their courage and their wise thinking. As to the matter of the Royal Opera House, no words, but should be re-built as an Opera House and nothing else. It's no use to be adamant and shall try to bring architects from foreign countries to exhibit their work here with the expense of our tax monies, this is a matter of the Maltese and we Maltese know what is best, that is: we want a Royal Opera House with the same architecture as it was before it went to ashes.
GODFREY FENECH
Jun 21st 2009, 09:14
Many happy returns on your special b'day.
I was lucky enough to meet Capt. Sullivan years back when I worked at a local pharmacy in Sliema run by his family. He is a family man of high religous beliefs and social values.
What the future holds for the remains of the Royal Opera House is doomed. What is truly important to us all is having people like Capt. Sullivan, who by their example and dedication make us all Maltese proud of him. His memories will remain with us forever. He is a role model for others to follow.
Godfrey Fenech (ex Browns Pharmacy)
Anthony Magri
Jun 20th 2009, 18:20
A newly built opera house will be a white elephant only for pessimist. People who appreciate music and even dramas will have a place where to relax. They are not a few.
Look at ta'Qali Stadium. Sports and football lovers were eager to have a modern stadium.. For some years of its inauguration spectators crowded to see football.. The games against Italy and other national teams saw it crammed with spectators. Only when local football saw a slump, the presence of spectators fell drastically. It all depends on the show. Lovers of football have not decreased in number. Would be spectators flock to the stadium to see football games not a casino . Give them good football, the stadium will fill to capacity.
This might happen for operas. Give would be spectators the opportunity to see well presented operas, or plays, a worthwhile concert; the place will fill up attracting new fans. Just as Paceville has become the Mecca for youths looking for leisure, people of a certain age, even youths, will flock to the opera house for entertainment. Some will do it for snobbism, it doesn’t matter, others will do it for culture and a greater number for entertainment.
Alfred Grech
Jun 20th 2009, 16:06
A VERY HAPPY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY, MR SULLIVAN. May you stay around many more years. Yes, the theatre must be rebuilt and must be rebuilt to the same exact design as it was. It used to be a magnificent building.
DO NOT change its exterior - it will be a big mistake if you do and future generations will condemn such decision. I prefer to see it unbuilt than to see some modern style building instead.
Kyra Anne Sullivan
Jun 20th 2009, 13:21
Happy birthday dearest Nannu!! I am so proud to have someone like you to look up to! You are truly a person I admire! Much love xxx
Nicky Psaila-Savona
Jun 20th 2009, 13:09
Happy Birthday Nannu!
You are an inspiration to us all and I hope that you will continue to teach us for many years to come.
God Bless You
Steven Camilleri
Jun 20th 2009, 13:06
A Maltese Veteran , I salute you Sir. God Bless you and Thankyou.
vincent a galea
Jun 20th 2009, 12:49
AD MULTOS ANNOS ! Sur Salv...
I beg his relatives not to allow Mr Sullivan to see what will be happening to the Opera House site and the entrance to our dear Baroque City, when Renzo Piano unfolds his destruction of History.
Can one imagine what a shock this will be to a dear CENTENARIAN!!
But of course Piano is only doing this because he has been asked by our own PATRIOTIC BROTHERS!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!
Some call it PROGRESS. I call it EXPLOITATION!!!!!!!!
J Farrugia
Jun 20th 2009, 12:11
"It is the government's duty to educate the people and expose them to opera... And I insist the opera house ruins should be rebuilt into the Royal Opera House and nothing else". So says Mr Sullivan. While wishing him longevity and congratulating him for turning 100, I cannot but oppose his statement. Government's duty is to give every person the opportunities and the means, but not of rebuilding a loss making extravaganza when our country is in dire straits. I am sorry that I cannot complement you on this idea, even though I wish I can boast that we have an opera house. But I keep my feet steadfastly on the ground and when I see that a patient at Mater Dei cannot be given the life saving tablet which will perhaps aid him in attaining your magnificent age, then NO. I dont want this opera house to be built again during my lifetime, i dont want to see another drydocks syndrome with an opera house, full of neatly dressed people listening to their hearts' content, while seeing the theatre's accounts in the red. NEVER will I agree with such views which will cost our pockets millions of euros..
Ian Sullivan
Jun 20th 2009, 11:57
Happy b'day Nannu. You are the greatest man I know. Hope you have many more b'days in the future to come!
Charles Micallef
Jun 20th 2009, 11:09
Let us rebuild the exterior stracture of the opera house exactly as it once was, it was magnificent and in my humble opinion it cannot be improved!
Many happy returns Mr Sullivan!
Joseph Schembri
Jun 20th 2009, 10:56
Look at the number of people who go to opera performances at the Manoel - and you'll see what a white elephant another opera house would be. By all means let's rebuild but let's make good use of the space.
Whatever the building is used for it must be beautiful, useful and preferably generate a profit.
C Frendo
Jun 20th 2009, 10:49
A very happy bday to Mr. Sullivan. Your experiences and words of wisdom inspire us and teach us a lot. Your life is practically a history book :)
Anne Marie Kisaun
Jun 20th 2009, 10:31
First of all I would like to wish Mr. Sullivan A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Pleasantries done, I fully agree with Mr. Sullivan that we have been robbed of an opportunity for many years and that the Opera House should finally stand in its magnificence once again and I am sure that most of this generation, though young, do appreciate Opera. Ballet performances can also be held within the Opera House. One can check the popularity of the two programmes by checking the sale of tickets for both occasions taking place either at the Manoel Theatre and MCC, most of the time these are fully booked weeks ahead, plus the fact that the acoustics at MCC are next to nil, if any at all. Afterall it was built as a Conference Centre and the name confirms this. So I really hope that common sense will finally prevail.