Let there be light
There is a rumour doing the rounds that, should criticism of the government's brief for the City Gate project persist, the government may even abort it or, rather, the opera house site part of it. While I am certain that it is unfounded, this rumour somewhat reflects the kind of light in which this present Administration is viewed: a baleful if not malignant light which is a far cry to that strong beam of goodwill with which Lawrence Gonzi was welcomed in March last year.
In just 18 months, the credit crunch has taken its toll. Our deficit has soared to a whopping €300 million and the powers that be in Brussels have decreed that in one short year we are to bring it in line with EU regulations, which saw Minister Tonio Fenech scurrying off to Chocolatelandia like the White Rabbit in a total tizzy and returned declaring that he would have to remove W&E subsidies. Our only way out is to sell ourselves to Bill Gates.
Meanwhile, the government, with pennants flying and trumpets blowing, announced Renzo Piano's blueprint for Valletta and, if their perennial apologists are anything to go by, are in a right royal miff because it was not received with the right amount of adulation. What on earth did they expect? After waiting for 67 years for something to happen on the opera house site, the government's brief to Mr Piano was devoid of any thought, sensitivity and without reflection as to what the long-term consequences of this open-air theatre that we need like a hole in the head will mean with regard to Maltese culture or the lack of it. As long as Parliament was designed, a green one to boot, in Mr Piano's magically inimitable style everything else could go hang, which it looks precisely as if it might have to do.
Last Tuesday, La Traviata, starring Renee Fleming and our own Joseph Calleja, was transmitted live from Covent Garden to an enthusiastic and numerous paying audience at Argotti Gardens. A son of Malta has really made it to the top echelons and will, any minute now, reach iconic status. A suggestion, which, I hope, the ministry will take up should this lovely event happen again, is that it should be shown free of charge in all the towns and villages in Malta that have a suitable open space.
So inordinately proud of Joseph Calleja should we be that I would have thought that this was the logical thing to do... La Traviata was seen simultaneously all over the UK and in goodness knows how many cinemas in Europe, which already shows what high esteem opera is held and how other governments see the wisdom of popularising it even further.
This was an exercise that took up the trend set by Pavarotti, Carreras and Domingo when they performed together in that unforgettable Three Tenors Concert in Rome 19 years ago and which I had the unforgettable privilege of attending. In those days one could hear men attempting to sing Nessun Dorma in the shower as they lathered themselves: so much for the irrelevance and mustiness of opera Lou Bondì.
Despite this I would like to clarify that Malta cannot afford or sustain a traditional opera house and we must resign ourselves to the fact that we have missed the boat on that one.
The use of the opera house site as a multipurpose theatre is also limited as, let's face, it is not all that big. It can, however, be designed as a concert hall for symphonic music on the lines of Mr Piano's lovely Sala della Musica in Parma, which, with very little alteration, could be adapted to our opera house site. We do not have a concert hall but have an orchestra.
I did not come across the Sala della Musica when I googled it and the couple of shots that materialised did not look all that remarkable but when you visit the Piano Project Exhibition in Auberge de Provence I will ask you to leaf through the two gorgeous books about Mr Piano on display at the side and look it up. It is splendid in its simplicity. Compare it to the proposed design and come to your own conclusions.
One little correction is required with reference to Minister Dolores Cristina's speech in Parliament last week regarding what she referred to as a Museum of Contemporary Art. While acknowledging that we do need a contemporary art museum I would like to point out that we need a Museum of Modern Art even more as we have almost two centuries of Maltese art that are practically unaccounted for. Today's contem-poraries, Mrs Cristina, are to- morrow's moderns.
In another nine years Malta or Valletta, not sure yet which and how, will be designated EU cultural capital. Will we get a Tate Modern-like Liverpool? I wonder.
A distinction must be made between merely conserving what we are lucky enough to have and encouraging what must still be created. Culture is a living thing through which the past must interact with the present to create a bright and vibrant future for generations yet to come. This is why the lacuna must be filled. Go for it before it's too late.
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Antoine Vella
Jul 8th 2009, 12:50
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
What minority rights? Apparently i'm not allowed to tell you since they were edited out twice.
Why do you expect politicians to turn up on the 18th? Seeing how much you despise them I'd have thought you wouldn't even want them there. Let's see how many painters, musicians and opera-goers turn up.
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Jul 7th 2009, 23:57
Mr Vella
What minority rights? Divorce? Same sex marriage? As our country is run by a branch of the Vatican I wonder what you could be referring to! What have our local politicos done apart from pay lip service to minority rights. We will see how many of them turn up for the Gay Pride March in Valletta on Saturday the 18th at 10am. Maybe you should join us if you feel so strongly about minority rights.
It would be nice to meet you and set the record straight about your misinformed impressions of me.
David Borg
Jul 7th 2009, 23:15
Last week I attended the live transmission of La Traviata in the Luxembourg main cinema (Utopolis).
The large cinema hall was packed and the transmission was excellent. Unfortunately there was only a small number of Maltese persons.
Last year I had the opportunity to speak briefly to Joseph Calleja. I had told him that he was mentioned with other famous opera singers in an article in the Lufthansa inflight magazine. I would like to congratulate him for making us proud to be Maltese.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 7th 2009, 19:34
@ Mr Antoine Vella - If we really cherish democracy, and if we really recognise Parliament as that finest and highest of democratic institutions, ... what did someone say about Parliament being 'a scream in favour of democracy'? ... then, why is it that oftentimes, or rather, most often, it is empty save for a couple of MPs who simply have to be there during the Aggornament? And why is it that a prominent Minister, a couple of years ago while Dr Sant was still Opposition Leader, said in Parliament that since the Government had all those more seats as a majority, there was no need to take some law through a second reading because it would be passed anyway, with or without the collaboration of the Opposition?
Is that how we respect the 'scream in favour of democracy'? Is that the extent of our respect for Parliament? I think we need first and foremost to have an examination of conscience about what we are trying to do in our country - if we still have a conscience!
Antoine Vella
Jul 7th 2009, 18:15
Kenneth Zammit Tabona,
In my earlier post I had given examples of minority rights which can only be guaranteed by the work of politicians in and out of parliament (what you call skulduggery and chicanery). This bit was removed by the moderators although there was nothing offensive about it.
g.portelli
Jul 7th 2009, 18:05
@KZT Don't let a clumsy and puerile attempt to confound a love for Art and Culture with elitism and parochial politics, dampen your enthusiasm. Some are committed to the bankruptcy of culture and creativity, you exercise your democratic right by opposing that reasoning. Democracy requires a belief in action , not just lip service.You gain our respect because of that
g.portelli
Jul 7th 2009, 16:55
@A.Vella
Those of us who do not have a wealthy and important family to fall back on depend on politicians to make our life better or worse.
I really can't agree with that, nor do the rest of my very humble but free thinking kinsfolk. It is up to one's self to make life better, particularly when politicians fail to deliver.
You find it very hard to move away from magical thinking being such a fervent believer in the Cult of the Politician. (careful there you might come across a less than democratic crowd praying at that altar)!. Why do we need Patron saints in a Democracy? Does Democracy require the intercession of Political saints? Other wise what exactly are you implying, that no one should question political decisions because politicians who know better take them?
RE there is much to do and a lot depends on politicians 'I disagree. There is still much to do but a lot depends on the people not the political class. Democracy is the prerogative of the people and politicians do well to remember it.
The Arts like Science are tools that can foster Democratisation. European Politicians like Andre Malraux understood that very well.
Paul Borg
Jul 7th 2009, 16:15
A short while ago, a friend emigrated to northern Europe, surely one of the most democratic areas, and this is what he had to say "One of the things I enjoy most is that politics does not dominate our lives here. In fact, we are almost unaware of it, hardly ever talk about it, and it proceeds far more smoothly and less abusively than it does in Malta where our political system is based on patronage and 'pjaciri', with politicians wanting to control everything, including our very thought processes through control of the media"
Again, a US foreign professor who studies Malta commented: if I were to only go by the TV news stations, I would think that nothing and nobody exists in Malta beyond politicians.
It is very clear that the move to City Gate under the guise of building a new theatre is an 'in yer face' attempt on the part of our politicians to raise their profile in the public sphere even higher, imposing their presence on all who enter our capital city. Democracy? Smacks more of Louis XIV to me!
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Jul 7th 2009, 16:11
At last! The truth by implication! So in Mr Vella's opinion I am a spoilt brat from a wealthy and important family yapping and whining beciause society has not provided me with a wall to hang my favourite pictures.
Dear Mr Vella if only you knew how far removed from the truth that is! Anyone who knows me will attest that the wealth and importance of my family bypassed my branch of it two generations ago and that I am totally self made.
What makes me different is that my mother always told me that no matter how poor we were nobody could take away my knowledge and culture and yes Mr Vella, un that respect I am as rich as Croesus.
It is knowledge and culture that make us what we are and not poolitcal skulduggery and chicanery.
Do your homework Mr Vella and you will find out that your predjudices are groundless.
J Martinelli
Jul 7th 2009, 15:02
@ KZT
If the rumour you mention, you consider as 'unfounded' why try to perpetuate it? It is a typical Labour tactic that if you repeat an allegation often enough, it will be perceived as a fact?
If you injected one ounce of honesty in your writing you would not have commented on Malta's deficit since a substantial part of it is made up of the early retirement settlement with the dock workers and a large subsidy to Enemalta. Both are one time affairs therefore will not be repeated in 2009. This means that the 4.7% of GDP (2008) will be reduced to closer to 3% in 2009 unless an economic tsunami hits.
Elections are not mere popularity contests but rather in order to elect a government which is expected to make decisions which, though some may be unpopular, are perceived to be the best in the interest of the nation and not simply to appease the Opposition.
The Valletta project will cost 80 million over a number of years during which time many workers will continue to be employed in spite of the world economic downturn.
So, may I ask, what is KZT's beef?
c gatt
Jul 7th 2009, 14:43
@Mr Vella
I can now comprehend why we will never understand each other. Parliament as a protector of democracy? Politicians as the protectors of the poor? The biggest lacuna in Malta is political culture which is what really defines a civilised country? Really?? Politicians define a country's culture???
Put your faith in politicians by all means, but please remember that they have feet of clay. As to the history of the last 25 years, or the last 50 for that matter, i give credit to the creativity of the Maltese.Any progress registered on this island came about despite the more often misguided and self-serving interests of politicians, not because of them. LOL
Antoine Vella
Jul 7th 2009, 14:06
2
Those of us who do not have a wealthy and important family to fall back on depend on politicians to make our life better or worse. The thousands of Maltese who suffered because of a lack of human and civil rights and had to struggle to re-establish democracy can appreciate this; spoilt brats, on the other hand, cannot even begin to understand how arrogant and offensive they sound when they keep yapping and whining because society hasn’t yet provided them with a wall to hang their favourite pictures on.
Antoine Vella
Jul 7th 2009, 14:04
1
Since my very short post wasn’t enough, I have to spell things out more clearly and explain them at some length.
The biggest lacuna in Malta is political culture which is what really defines a civilised country. Stalin’s USSR had the Hermitage and the Bolshoi but no parliament – they had 20 million killed instead. Was the country civilised because they had paintings and ballerinas? Singing and dancing are a pleasant enough way to pass the time but what makes the difference between a free country and a dictatorship hellhole is democracy, of which parliament is the highest expression.
Decades ago I’ve attended parliamentary sittings which looked like dog-fighting sessions and the situation in the country reflected what was happening in the House. I’m proud of the political achievements of the last 25 years and a parliament building should be a celebration of a growing democracy which is however taken for granted by some Maltese, hence the lacuna mentioned earlier. There is still much to do and a lot depends on politicians.
c gatt
Jul 7th 2009, 12:52
@Mr Antoine Vella
That we need to move parliament out of the palace is not in doubt. That we need to place it the entrance of Valletta is just bad urban planning. and smacks of hubris. Its like putting the boiler room instead of the ballroom on a cruise liner.
This is why parliament buildings are hardly ever a main attraction in any city. How many people visit the italian or French Parliaments (indeed how many people know where they are). Britain is an exception, but that has more to do with Big Ben .
On the otherhand seeing that we are still having this discussion, it is apparent that we do not yet really understand the implications of our decisions. More's the pity. But here is some food for thought: why is it that Singapore has made creativity its prime concern? And is it a coincidence that the PM of New Zealand is also the Minister of Culture and that because of the investment in culture, New Zealand is enjoying a strong economy? There are many other examples i can give, but i'm sure Mr Vella can do his own homework.
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Jul 7th 2009, 12:38
Thankyou Mr Portelli
Could not have put it better myself
g.portelli
Jul 7th 2009, 12:23
@Antoine Vella
Why exactly, so we keep churning out citizens devoid of creativity who are prime fodder for divisive politics? Such a beautiful society you envisage, one divested of Music, Art and creative performers. An investment in culture and creativity will reap rewards not just in the Arts. Let's face it, where exactly are our creative politicians? They are as rare as Pallid Harriers. Their energy is flitted away on the less than illuminating politics of scoring points and fostering the culture of political patronage. We need investment in culture and creativity a trillion times more than we need a new parliament, that is how we will get better politicians and not by housing them in a new building. Investment in culture will not simply give you more artists, musicians and a wider audience, it will also encourage new forms of thinking. That is what our economy and society needs not fossilised and disenfranchising narratives.
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Jul 7th 2009, 11:59
Antoine Vella
Parliament? Who said anything about a parliament? Are you unable to see the cultural lacunae that have been allowed to fester for so long in Malta? A million times you say? wow! I AM most impressed............!
g. scerri
Jul 7th 2009, 10:51
"The use of the opera house site as a multipurpose theatre is also limited as, let's face, it is not all that big" It can be made bigger. If nothing else, Piano has showed us that you chop and cut and alter when the will is there. There are two roads flanking the theatre. Get rid of one of them just as Piano got rid of a main artery into Valletta. The argument relating to the footprint of the Opera House has been destroyed by Piano no less.
Antoine Vella
Jul 7th 2009, 10:03
Let us get our priorities right. We need a parliament building in a prominent location in Valletta a million times more than we need a museum of modern or contemporary art. Or a theatre.
R Grima
Jul 7th 2009, 09:09
I have yet to visit the exhibition in Valletta (but will obviously).Despite that I have seen enough to know that the proposed theatre without a roof is non sense. How anyone can come up with an idea like that considering the site is beyond comprehension. I need not go in to all the reasons against here,suffice to say that if the present plan goes ahead this will be a 'White Elephant' for which this Government 'Will long be infamous in history' to coin a phrase.
Please choose the reason of your report below: