Wednesday, 4th November 2009 - 17:04CET

Exploratory holes dug at Opera House site

Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas

Workers engaged by the government this afternoon dug up various sections of the Old Opera House site in Valletta to investigate the state of the foundations. The investigations are part of preparatory work for the Piano project which will see the site converted into an open air theatre incorporating the ruins.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

C.Spiteri (2 weeks, 1 day ago)

@david carabott

I totally agree with you!! Even though there are greater priorities right now, social welfare, job opportunities, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT and investing on natural resources, workers rights and discrimination, education and not indoctrination, roads etc etc
So lets leave the project aside now!!! 2ndly respect the will of the people!

david carabott (2 weeks, 2 days ago)

Opera House rebuilt should be built as it stood before the war.

Anthony Pace Gouder (2 weeks, 2 days ago)

By now Dr. Gonzi surely knows that the OPPOSITION and DISSENT on this Project is widespread , including fervent PN adherents ! Quite peculiar, is that I still have to come across someone who is in favour and accepts this non- Architectural Project ! Is this a political suicide ?

Anthony Pace Gouder (2 weeks, 2 days ago)

I submitted my comments on yesterday's (05-11-09) news report ,titled "Opera House Foundations being tested". Until late my comment was never added in ! and just 4 persons had sent in their comments .
Since that News Item has been removed ,I would appreciate if you insert my comment here .

Anthony Pace Gouder (2 weeks, 2 days ago)

P.Cassar (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

@ Paul Cassar
The govt is not studying, it is implimenting a project which surveys have shown the vast majority of the population IS AGAINST. First class PN arrogance

@ J Martinelli Something tells me that I should expect you to be nonchalant about people's feelings because practically all diehard nationalists are of the same ilk!

Ray Gatt (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

@ Victor Laiviera - were did you get the majority from. Have you got a lot of chairs (siggijiet) at home by any chance, since that's the way labour recognise a majority. First you all moan cause it's taken over sixty years for a decision to be taken, and now that one has been taken you're still moaning. Anyways, in the eventuality that in the future one decides to close it completely, that's being taken care of as well. The problem with people like you is not that the Opera House won't be built but that the PN is doing something about it.

m.portelli (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Ah the opening scene from the poorly scripted and directed' i Philistei: indifferenza tra le rovine ' kicks off apparently with a minor 'digging' chorus! Why do some insist on casting away the corner stone? The Philharmonic orchestra and the performing Arts are 'senza tetto' and Malta is reduced to a cultural wasteland.

With apologies to KZT and A. Storace

H. Camilleri (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

It seems that the Government will keep on going with the Piano project... although the disapprovement of the public.
Still surprised how the Valletta Local Council didn't stand up and make the point of most (if not all) Valletta residents to disapprove this project.

The Government is blinded by Piano's reputation and price....... and it's not considering the people's opinion, just to shut up some complaints and comments about the Valletta's entry.

victor pulis (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

@Ian Bugeja
Sorry to burst your bubble but once the new parliament building goes up, the hope of ever rebuilding an opera house on the site of the old one will also go up...in smoke.
Can you imagine another huge building next to Piano's parliament in the square?
@ R Caruana
must it take a project to get rid of the smells and filth left by the hawkers? what are laws for?If they have no permits the police can move them which will cost less.

Jesmond Micallef (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

At last, this site right at very entrance of Malta's Capital City, Valletta, is starting to transfrom itself from a grim reminder of "savagery" to a more appropriate venue,Valletta so much deserves.

Good luck with all the work, may I wish complete success to this project without any political mambo jambo.

Albert Buttigieg (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Whilst agreeing that SOMETHING has to be done, I cannot appreciate the need of building an open air theatre. It is going to be another useless built up space. Give it - at least - a retractable roof. A parliament in one of the few remaining open space in the capital city is another big blow. I still do not understand what Piano meant when he said that his model would be giving a city 'built by gentleman for gentlemen'. I think that we might be construed as a people suffering from agoraphobia, killing the few remaining open spaces. Let's hope that someone will see the light. And I am not saying anything about the dire financial postion the country is in at the moment!!!

Emmanuel Apap (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Is the government DEAF, can't the government hear the people saying that they do not want an open air theatre? I know that the government has got used to taking decisions without truly consulting with the people, has got used to trampling right over us, but this is going too far. WE DO NOT WANT AN OPEN AIR THEATRE!!!!! HELLO is anybody there?

Joe Cassar (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

@ Mr Paul Cassar

You wrote, "Before you get the public approval you have to do a survey to make sure the project it viable. "

But we have already paid Prof Piano €1.32 milion for the design. Are you saying we did that BEFORE we made sure that the project is viable?

joseph Borg (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Its a shame that this government is letting Piano experiment his ideas on such an iconic site. Yes, the majority of the maltese are against this project and the government knows it. He's only proceeding with works inorder to have something in his hands to show for the next elections. This is a sad day for Malta's culture..

MARY V. GALEA (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

First you should see how many people in MALTA really want the Piano project. And, after it has been shelved all these years, why are you starting such an expensive project now, in the middle of a world recession?

martha calleja (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

if the gov keep insisting there way ,then the next election we do it our way. give us back the opera house and stop dreaming mr gonzi . you had your moment, a least leave something what the people wanted and waited for 70 years ........THE OPERA HOUSE PLEASE!

Joseph Portelli (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

The Govt is going to spend millions (run fast) to stay in the same place ( not in popularity and votes though); reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.

Victor Laiviera (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

Mr Gianninu Saliba and Mr Giov DeMartino as as predictable as a jukebox when you press the right buttons.

1) A survey published in a local paper showed that at least 67% of the Maltese people wanted the Opera House rebuilt as it stood before the war.

2) In 1981, the MLP simply did what the PN tried (and almost succeeded) to do in 1971. No more and no less.

J Martinelli (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

@ P Cassar

Do you intend to live another 68 years and then, maybe, the public will be consuted one more time?

Paul Cassar (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

@P.Cassar,

This is a standard procedure. Before you get the public approval you have to do a survey to make sure the project it viable. No one is taking anyone for a ride.

R.Caruana (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

If the great majority of the Maltese give a tacit approval by remaining silent it seems that the rumpus of those that oppose is taken as a sign that the reverse is true. Let's get this project going, for goodness sake, and apart from providing work for a good number of Maltese workers we can do away with the 'monti's style entrance to Valletta.

I'm ashamed each time I walk into our Capital City through the present gate, with the surrounding filth and smells emanating from those hawkers who took up permanent residence outside puturjal. With a real upheaval of the transport system the area should also take up a much more decent appearance.

joe Aveline (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

Any use for the Opera House, involving any kind of performance, has to be better than what we have now. Working inside the remains sounds fine, but as ever, its all down to how many seats can be sold. It is almost certainly too small for big 'rock' gigs but might well suit summer evening classical work and plays. At least the idea of some kind of rebuild is not being refloated. There is simply not the space to house the needs of a modern theatre.
Joe Aveline

Ian Bugeja (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

@P Cassar
There is nothing to discuss. The discussion has been open for 50years and nothing has been done. I think that this is the best approach. It will leave the ruins as they are glorifying them at the same time. In the future if the necessity arises to rebuild the theater it will still be possible.

P.Cassar (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

BUT WEREN'T WE GIVEN TO THINK THAT THE PROJECT WAS STILL OPEN FOR DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL IF GENREALLY/PUBLICLY ACCEPTED???

Govt continually taking people for a ride assuming they are all fools.

Giovann this is arrogance, utter arrogance, democracy hopelessly forgotten and we are referring to today because, if we go back, we find innumerable case of undemocratic behaviour. Giovann you surely remember that one could NOT go to hospital with the labour newspaper in hand!!!!

Robert Caruana (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

I personallly like many aspects of the Piano project but how wise is it to spend so many millions on this project during these hard times when the country's deficit seems to keep on spiralling out of control?

When everybody is finding it that much harder to maintain a decent standard of living, is it right for the country to spend so much "borrowed money" so that our members of parliament have a more comfortable place to work from??

GiovDeMartino@ Victor laiviera (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

Mr. Laiviera is perfectly correct. This is NOT democracy. Democracy could be seen in the general election of 1981. THAT WAS democracy. Btw....who told you that the majority of the Maltese are against it/

Gianninu Saliba (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

Unreal!! Victor Laiviera says there is no democracy, because according to him the majority are against the project and want the Opera House back. First of all how come that he came to the conclusion that the majority want the Opera House back? Second I'd like to know if he believes that there was a democracy when the overall majority of the electorate voted for a Nationalist government in 1981 and Dom Mintoff and his Labour Party hung on to power against the clearly expressed wishes of the majority of the electorate. Do not bother answering my first question, but I would appreciate your response or rather it would be nice if Joseph will apologize for Mintoff's abuse/

Eric Gahn (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

@Lawrene Fenech.

Paino's (correct mispelling) did not include any oil rigs. Any potential oil find will therefore be buried again.

Victor Laiviera (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

So the Gov is going ahead with the project, even though it has become abundantly clear that a majority of the Maltese people are against it and want the old Opera House back.

Did someone mention democracy?

Michael Gatt (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

Its a real case of quote"Money no problem"

Lawrence Fenech (2 weeks, 4 days ago)

Perhaps this time we shall strike oil!

Exploratory holes dug at Opera House site

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