James A. Tyrrell, Larne, N. Ireland
Weather does talking on roofless theatre
For quite a while now, we have been hearing from the government how great the Renzo Piano plans for the roofless Opera House are. According to Lawrence Gonzi, Malta deserves a theatre that is different to the ones already in existence. So it seemed that according to the government all we deserve is a theatre that could only function in the height of summer. Now, we know that we can't even be sure of using it then! Let's look at what has happened in the past week.
A performance by the EU Baroque Orchestra was due to take place at the President's Palace courtyard in Valletta - this is protected enough, you would think. Apparently not, as this had to be moved at the request of the organisers to the Ambassador's Hall at the Auberge de Castille due to the humid weather. In the words of the organisers, "Such weather conditions wreak havoc on instruments in general but have a stronger effect on stringed instruments as they can affect tuning. This would have been exacerbated in the case of the baroque orchestra, which uses period instruments that employ gut strings that are even more susceptible to the weather."
Then we had the postponement of another concert, this time by Joseph Calleja, due to take place at the Granaries. In this case the postponement is due to strong winds. I can imagine Mr Calleja was saying, "I told you so" as he had already spoken out against the government's idea of a roofless theatre.
Dr Gonzi has stated in the press that the decision on whether or not to have a roofless theatre was left in the hands of Renzo Piano, which in my opinion is a disgrace.
What gives this government the right to hand over such an important decision to a foreign architect who is obviously blind to the real needs of the Maltese people? It would appear that Piano is right and 128 renowned artists are wrong with regard to this matter.
Therefore, in the light of what has happened in the past few days can I ask the government to justify its stand on this matter? Why is the government so anxious to accept the White Rocks deal and yet not even considering the Opera House deal from Architect Giovanni Trevisan who has promised that he can build a 1,200-seat theatre on the site of the Opera House at no cost to the government?
Like the White Rocks project, a consortium is offering to build top-class facilities in return for a 30-year lease on the property. Innocent enough...except for the fact that what the government has accepted at White Rocks, it's refusing at City Gate. This makes one wonder why it is so important to the government that this stupid roofless theatre proposal should go ahead, especially when the majority of Maltese people are opposed to it. It would be interesting to see if anyone within the present government has the courage to answer these questions.
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James A. Tyrrell
Jul 31st 2010, 19:56
@Martin Debono. First off Martin I was under the impression that I was the one who was being insulted. I was simply responding. As for politics like you I couldn't care less about it. My concern is with regard to the protection of the Maltese environment and it's heritage. Therefore if Labour were in power and screwing the country up I would be writing about them. Why do people in Malta, even those like yourself who say that they have no interest in politics have to reduce every argument to a political one?
The fact that the country has been waiting for as you put it 60+ years to have something done with the old opera site is an indication of how much the various Governments in that time have cared about their country other than to make a fast buck from their positions. It is still no excuse however for the present Government trying to fob off the people with a roofless theatre. If you had simply wanted the site cleared up you could have bulldozed for a lot less!
James A. Tyrrell
Jul 30th 2010, 22:33
@F Scicluna, Martin Debono and E. Abela. Personally I couldn't care less what you do in other countries although if you can't see the sense in the Opera House deal from Architect Giovanni Trevisan you should spend more time in other countries as Malta can well do without you.
You are obviously easily pleased PN supporters crawling around on the floor under your beloved Gonzi's table lapping up any crumbs he cares to throw your way. It's because of people like you who don't have the gonads to speak out against the stupid decisions your Government is making that the country is turning into the concrete jungle that it is.
Oh and by the way Abela, if I have an opinion you'll hear about it believe me!
Martin Debono
Jul 31st 2010, 16:03
You presume to know it all about Malta and about where my and others' political inclinations lie. For your information, I'm 42 years old and have voted twice in my life. I couldn't care less whether Gonzi or Muscat is the next PM or whether the Valletta theatre has no roof or three sets of them on top of each other. I'm just happy that after 60+ years we will finally be rid of that dump. I do wonder however why someone who lives in northern Ireland gets all hot and bothered about Maltese politics and presumes to insult those who live here. I would have thought that you have enough things to worry about closer to home.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 30th 2010, 22:04
This is the Maltese character at its very best, its deepest, its most rational, its most frighteningly nationalistic.. And these people have votes which decide who runs the country?
F Scicluna
Jul 30th 2010, 18:57
Mr. J A Tyrrell, dont you have more pressing problems in your home country? leave us kids and our parliamenterians alone please. Do not meddle in our country's affairs,as we do not do in yours.
Martin Debono
Jul 30th 2010, 17:15
Wow I had no idea that the building of new theatres in Malta and the Gonzi administration was of such great interest in northern ireland. I guess as they say, it takes all kinds in this world.
E. Abela
Jul 30th 2010, 13:07
P.S. - When I am visitor in other countries I do not waste my time crticising what is wrong in their country - I am a guest after all !
E. Abela
Jul 30th 2010, 13:04
@James Tyrrell
If you are a citizen of Malta, which I doubt because it seems you are a resident of Gozo but always writing from Ireland - you have every right to criticise our government - if not, just keep your opinions to yourself. Thank you
Ramon Casha
Jul 30th 2010, 11:21
The roofless theatre must be one of the few projects whose only fate once it's completed is to be demolished.
Charles Sammut
Jul 30th 2010, 10:45
It is more important to our MP's to have a parliament house costing tens of millions of Euros and from which they can be absent most of the time. It's the outer shell that counts, to project an illusion of the seat of power from where MP's can procrastinate for ever about such matters as divorce. Never mind the hole in the wall or the glorified pile of crumbling stone.