Renzo Piano's planned empty or half-covered shell to replace the present World War II ruins of our cherished opera house won't last long because the Valletta gateway's history and tradition are against it.

This site is not Verona's Roman arena in Italy, nor Orange's Roman amphitheatre in France. This is a 19th century prestigious building site, of a period when grand opera was the fashion in Europe, and still is in part today.

Some of your correspondents write that modern amenities wouldn't fit in our rebuilt opera house.

Maybe they are going too far, and Barry's pre-war theatre as it was would be more than adequate for our present needs. If a World War II aerial land mine hadn't destroyed our opera house in 1942, we would still be enjoying its traditional facilities without any qualms.

All other European cities have restored their former opera houses, with minimal changes: La Fenice in Venice, Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, and the Semper Oper in Dresden, all in very recent years - between 1985 and 2009. And all these formerly destroyed opera houses have been rebuilt and reopened for performances by contemporary artists. They add prestige enormously to their cities.

Since we've had one flourishing theatre there already until 1942, Valletta's gateway is crying for its restoration. Our difficulties and hesitation may be due to our negative thinking. With financial considerations in mind: where there's a will, there's a way.