Christian Peregin
Leading PN strategist raps Gonzi's approach
One of the Nationalist Party's longest standing strategists has criticised the way the Prime Minister has tackled the issue of Renzo Piano's controversial roofless theatre.
"The Prime Minister's failure to handle this small point is already leading to an anti-Piano reaction to the whole project," Fr Peter Serracino Inglott said yesterday.
The priest philosopher was one of the 128 prominent signatories of a petition against the concept of an open-air theatre presented to the government last week.
Days later it was announced that there would be a partial roof added to the designs to protect performers and equipment from the elements.
But Fr Serracino Inglott was unimpressed and said Lawrence Gonzi should tell the world-famous architect to add a whole roof to the proposed theatre, even if this would cost more money or cause a slight delay to the timeline.
He added that the arguments being used to "rationalise" the project were "rubbish" and risked ruining the reputation of Mr Piano.
"To say that Malta has no roofless venues and that this is a new concept is simply untrue and is causing many to reject the idea of having a foreign architect instead of one who understands the real needs of the Maltese."
A theatre without a roof was "useless", he said, adding that the recently-mentioned partial roof was there in the original plans and was, therefore, not new as described. Even an extended roof, that would fail to provide total shelter, would not be functional.
"My wish is to see a whole retractable roof," he said.
He also queried the "ambiguous" relationship between architect and client that has developed since Mr Piano decided against Dr Gonzi's original intention to build a Parliament on the old Opera House site.
"This should be the client's decision," he said, referring to the roof issue.
Meanwhile, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar spokesman Astrid Vella said that, while the partial roof protected the equipment and performers, it did nothing to solve one of the people's main concerns, the sound of fireworks.
Her sentiments were shared by poet Mario Azzopardi who said this had become a really "shoddy affair" and that the partial roof was "the latest instalment in an opera buffa of national dimensions".
"I am surprised that a world-class architect is deciding so whimsically on a project that is getting even more absurd. Will it be proposed next that there should be umbrella-and-non-umbrella patrons at Piano's Theatre?"
He said that, perhaps, Malta was getting what it deserved because the Maltese tended to have a particular appetite for fetch-and-carry solutions.
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Joseph V. Grech
Mar 4th 2010, 12:45
Dear Hon. P.M., Architect Renso Piano, Astrid Vella and all the others discussing this problem of inadequate space, may I respectfull suggest that:
-the two sites (old theatre site and possible part of the site earmarked for the new Parliament plus Offices) be combined into one
-to this further add the upper part of Ordnance Street which anyway is not really serving any useful purpose whatsoever.
Surely these three combined areas will produce a big enough site to build:
-- a lovely Renzo Piano designed Arts and Community Centre where Operatic and other Shows may be produced.
--very probably there will be ample space left for a modern Parliamentary Building to be built if this is considered necessary.
World renowned Renzo Piano would I am sure produce beautiful plans and indeed even make use of at least a number of the plans he has already designed.
Does this suggestion make any sense please ?
Hopefully there will be feedback to this suggestion.
Henry Galea Souchet
Mar 4th 2010, 09:40
What is all this about the theater’s roof or its absence, partial or otherwise? Does this mean that the main project is on, irrespective of whether it clashes with the rest of the City or not. Is this roof problem being utilized to distract public opinion, whilst the main main project continues to move on?
How strange the existing moat-like ditch would become without a Gate !!! What was the use to hew out that size of ditch when the main entry to the City would be a gaping open break in the defensive walls. Does this not sound somewhat ridiculously absurd?
Perhaps Dr Gonzi should inform one and all that the whole project has been dropped, and thus put so many minds at rest !
George Manduca
Mar 4th 2010, 00:31
As the quick-witted Mario Azzopardi recently noted, this latest Renzo Piano proposal has now degenerated into a veritable "Opera Buffa" of megalithic proportions. All we get are, a bunch of complementary front-row tickets to watch this contemptible, politically-infested show unfold. This may be the first and, I fear, the last show to be held AT - or I should say - AT THE EXPENSE OF our beloved Royal Opera House.
What started off as the equisitely exciting prospect of having our Theater (and city) back on the national agenda, is increasingly growing into an injurious debacle at the expense of Maltese National Pride. As time passes and hope fades, deep dismay and disgust fills the space left in the hearts of the Maltese.
I pride myself for being a respected patron of Opera at many theatres all over the world. If this charade keeps going any further in all the wrong directions, the only urge I get, is to dissociate myself from it as far as I possibly can. You will NEVER see my face in that Roof-less and Soul-less Theater - EVER AGAIN! .... You can also kiss my vote GOOD-BYE!
lgalea
Mar 3rd 2010, 20:24
Joseph ( Joe ) Grima The feeling of superiority is actually an inferiority complex because such persons feel superior to others to hide their inferiority complex.
Anthony Mizzi
Mar 3rd 2010, 18:29
A man of the cloth "One of the Nationalist Party's longest standing strategists "?
smifsud
Mar 3rd 2010, 18:07
if i ever run into Gonzi on the street i will give him my thoughts of him quiet loud and clear ....he is not listening to the people and i mean all people of Malta whatever parties they support ...this project is doomed under this gov ....people of malta stop this now !!!
Joseph ( Joe ) Grima
Mar 3rd 2010, 12:13
On his ridiculous open air theatre proposal Lawrence Gionzi has met his match He cannot pooh pooh Fr Peter Serrancino Ingolott and such personalities as internationally acclaimed Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja and film Director Mario Philip Azzopardi in the same way that he pooh poohs any suggestion brought forward by Jooseph Muscat. Bigotry is often taken for hard headedness ( rasu iebsa) but in actual fact it is more than just that. It arises from a feeling of superiority over other beings that one has no respect for. Dr Gonzi lost his claim to people's respect a long time ago. The last straw was his statement that he will vote for the increased tariffs, that are breaking the back of the strongest among our society, Bil Qalb. None of those on his front or back benches who voted with him on Monday deserve to be re elected but the first to be put to graze should be Dr Gonzi himself, the mother of all failures in leadership. .