Editorial

One of the online comments to last week's editorial on the project entrusted by the government to Renzo Piano - which concluded by saying that if one of the world's leading architects is of the opinion that a national theatre should be located elsewhere, who are we to argue? - stated that the colonial mentality in Malta is "alive and strong".

There may be an element of truth in that person's statement - though one could argue quite convincingly that the shadow of colonialism is just a slither of its former self - but if there is, it was used in the wrong context.

We did not take that line because Mr Piano comes from the beautiful Italian port of Genoa nor indeed because he is based in the fashionable French capital. We did so because of the credentials he possesses as an architect with renowned artistic flair who just happens, at the moment, to be building an opera house in Athens. He could have come from Comino and it would not have made the slightest difference.

One can disagree with the concept of having a parliament building in Freedom Square. In that case, blame the government, not Mr Piano. And one can consider his designs to be as ugly as the Pompidou Centre, which many think is a blot on the otherwise pristine Parisian landscape. After all, everyone is entitled to an opinion.

But when an expert of such calibre has been brought in to advise on what can be done and vice versa - and that expert says an opera house there is not doable - one cannot question his judgment unless one is sufficiently qualified to do so.

However, now we have a real problem, because another man from a foreign land has decided to wade into the mire (see front page story). Theatre impresario Cameron Mackintosh does not believe it makes sense to turn the ruins into a closed theatre either, with arguments ranging from the area being too cramped to economic inviability.

He also thinks he has an alternative, which is to make the Mediterranean Conference Centre suitable for such a purpose.

Time will tell whether money will allow that to be possible - we can only hope it does - but Sir Cameron should have some idea of what he is talking about. He owns seven of London's leading theatres and, according to press reports, has amassed a £635 million fortune from the industry to boot. Also, crucially for some, his mother was of Maltese descent.

All these credentials could well add weight to his assertion that not only are Mr Piano's plans "aesthetically pleasing to the eye", but the venue as proposed would be suitable for open air summer musical theatre and performance.

Anyone who disagrees may do well to cast an eye towards the Italian architect's home country: At the arena in Verona every summer they hold a magnificent opera festival. Though it does not have a roof - perhaps some brave soul with a loudspeaker should walk into the city centre and suggest they add one - the audience do not care much for the surrounding noise and mind even less if drops of water land on their designer clothing.

Since the historic Italian city is several hundred miles north of Malta, and has weather that is habitually more inclement, their use of the arena in this manner can only prove one thing: that these damn former colonial powers never get anything right... Or are we the problem?