Sunday, 1st March 2009
ARTED OUT
Is it impossible to have too much of a good thing?
Anyone who has partaken of too much chocolate knows that this is a darn fool question, but I´m talking of more intellectual pursuits here. Over the last couple of days, I´ve been lucky enough to have been spending time in Madrid, which like all big cities has an abundance of art museums.
In no order of size or importance, we´ve been to a themed exhibition on "Shadows", to a whole exhibition dedicated to Francis Bacon (a troubled soul if ever there was one and an inspiration, I´ve figured out, genius that I am, for Gerald Scarfe) to the Prado, to the Thyssen-Bornemisza and to the Reina Sofia.
Oh, and to the Sorolla House, too. I tend to spend a tad less time than the missus at these things, since she has a professional imperative to examine each single brush-stroke, whereas I tend to wander around, sometimes with an Audioguide stuck to my ear, doing what magpies are reputed to do. In other words, I roam aimlessly, stopping at what takes my fancy.
In the time I have to kill while waiting for my wife, which is generally in the order of 30 or 40 minutes, at least, depending on the size of the exhibition, I find myself musing on the mysteries of life, the universe and everything. One of these mysteries, which occurred to me while getting progressively (or should that be regressively?) colder outside the Thssyen Museum, was how so many people are going about girding their loins for the fight that´s coming up about the use to which the site of the Opera House should be put when it´s refurbished.
Many worthy folk are laying down the law about how we need an Arts Centre there, preferably coupled with a state-of-the-art opera house. In an ideal world, this would perhaps be the case, but what people like this, who no doubt have visited such facilities in other countries, fail to appreciate is that, not to put too fine a point on it, we live in a country which is the size, resources-wise, of a pretty small town.
Yes, it would be nice to have our own version of the Sydney Opera House, though I have no doubt that certain parties would find objection to it on aesthetic or heritage-protection grounds, but, read my lips, we can´t flipping afford it. Not unless the the hundred or so people who would go to every performance put on there (I mean every performance, not the annual things like the Gozo Opera) are prepared to put their hands in their pockets and pay astronomic amounts.
And I do mean astronomic.
The same goes for having a decent art exhibition facility. I fully agree that it would be nice to have something of the sort, with all manner of excellent works exhibited, but can we afford to employ the number of people needed to ensure that it´s run correctly?
And I´m only talking about the human resources aspect here, leaving out all the other bits and bobs needed for a really good arts centre. Of course we can´t: it´s sad that we can´t, but we can´t. It´s not that we don´t know how to do things properly, of course. Contrary to what many people seem to think, we can do things right in Malta and we have people who know how to do their job and get it done properly.
It´s just that in the real world, things cost money and we just don´t have it, and nor do we have enough of a market to which to sell the product that makes it financially feasible.
So when the battle starts about what to do with the Old Opera House, let´s just keep our feet on the ground, so we don´t find ourselves scuppering a project without proper discussion jsut because someone or other has taken it into his or her head to start laying down the law. It´s not like it hasn´t happened before. For those of you who might have spotted the fact that this is a shorter edition than usual, well, hey, I´m on holiday.
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Comments
Luke Gatt - unlike me you may be too young to remember but youth is no excuse. Let us drop this 'kantaliena' that the Opera House succeeded because it was the only place of entertainment - far from it!
Before the war Valletta boasted at least five cinemas, not to mention the Manoel Theater, open air cafes with life music like the Premier, and also regular dances at the many social clubs like the Civil Service Club, the Vernon Club etc.
Besides cinemas in every outlying town, there were other thriving theaters like the Radio City in Hamrun, the Orpheum at Gzira, Salesians in Sliema and some other regional ones.
So if anything the original Royal Opera House had more competition then than now! If it could succeed then, with no tourism to speak of, a much less educated population and very little transport, it reflects very poorly on any administration that claims a theatre would not be viable.
@ Christopher Ripard: don't tell me you are comparing micro-stage St James to a full theatre that the English experts said could seat 1,000-1,500. Are you serious? An ice-rink? and we're questioning feasibility?
Lisbon grew out of the Alfama, today the oldest district of Lisbon.
Decisions are made for the best through the passage of time.
The Valletta we know does not have the attributes of a capital city of a modern European Nation.
Valletta equates to the many historical centers as new cities developed on their edges to serve modern demands.
Building a Parliament in Valletta will deprive Malta of a modern dimension to its Capital.
Valletta's modern extension is long overdue.
Make up your mind, will you?
PN supporter for Joseph Muscat?
A "Reagan Democrat or a Republican for Obama"?
Of course I have some regrets about some decisions taken by an NP administration, but I am not about ready to discuss them with a weather vane (pinnur).
When I have some reservations I also think about the alternatives and in MOST cases, I find that the particular decisions taken were the lesser of two evils. I may be mistaken, but don't most administrations operate on that principle? Don't let me start giving you examples from your own back yard because a whole page will not suffice let alone 200 words! It's easy for you and lucky at that, since you are hardly in a position to take decisions - your own comments prove my point.
Besides, what has prompted you to start arguing with me again? Unless you want to discuss substance, please don't bother!
The capital city of a country is the city where parliament meets. It does not matter how old and majestic a city may be; if it is not the seat of government it is not the capital city.
I'm from Floriana so I'm quite certain of this: St Anne's Street as we know it today is the result of post-war rebuilding. Up to WWII it was a normal street without porticos and of average width.
@Ivan:
No mate, I know of the one you describe (and thank you for the reference) but the one I refer to was definitely Malta (though not named as such) and culminated in the civilian governor (played by Wilfred Pickles) quelling a riot by blowing a ref's whistle. I am sure that I took my wife to the West End to see it but she denies all knowledge of such an incident.
I was tickled by the proposal to erect Parliament in Bormla (Where I was educated) but must allow that it is hardly practical. I agree with Andrew as to the Opera House site becoming a memorial and again suggest a garden.
I know Minack open-air theatre in my native Cornwall ( and it is not the only one in the Duchy) and I recollect a marvellously sited one in Spain's Cartagena. At the tatty ruins of the married quarters (where I once lived) at Rinella I can visualise an open air theatre on the slope of the valley that one can glimpse between Ricasoli and Bighi from Valletta. A retractable roof could be slung from Kalkara to the Ricasoli-Zonkor ridge.
similar to the original arrangement at the Colosseum.
Pete,
in a previous thread of this blog (sic!), you had once asked about a play . Could it possibly be this one...?
http://www.teatrumanoel.com.mt/main.php?page=event_details&id=80
If so you have tomorrow and Sunday to see it and bring back some memories!
In which case you won't be "Arted out" but "Arted In"... and very glad I'll be for you too....!!
:)
You make a valid point that needs to be addressed.
1. Valletta's powerful brand means that it is the undisputed capital of Malta.
2. To us Maltese all surrounding towns and villages have their own borders. Yet these are not natural boarders and visitors fail to see any dividing lines. Hence a football match played at ta qali is reported by the international media as having been played in Valletta.
3. The Valletta we know is a majestic yet old monument that serves to be the soul of our nation yet does not qualify as an active capital city of a modern European nation.
4. The Grand Harbor is an integral part of Valletta.
5. All the cities I know from Lisbon to Istanbul grew on either side of rivers, seas and estuaries.
I am therefore confident that a modern capital can grow beyond the extreme confines of the historical part yet retain its Valletta connotation. This is, after all, what the knights may have had in mind when they built wide St Anne's...
" Track record? Who needs a track record at such an age?"
Maybe not, but intelligence is a prerequisite.
A set of principles define the man.
Straying from principles turn the man into an opportunist.
An opportunist rarely commands respect.
A leader who enjoys no respect is doomed to failure.
Have we had a few good examples of those!
Remember, - getting old is mandatory, growing up is an option.
There is just one snag in what you are suggesting: moving parliament to the old Drydocks site would effectively make Bormla the capital of Malta.
Before being elected to the post of Prime Minister, Eddie Fenech Adami was dubbed as "The Village Lawyer" by yours truly. Need I say more.
@ D Attard:
Some most interesting suggestions.
This should extend to Verdala and San Anton that can also become classy tea-in-the-courtyards type of experience over and above spiritual experiences.
This move will add value to our tourism product and is cost efficient.
Parliament, Ministries and ancillary buildings may perhaps be built along the harbour coasline (Bacir No1 etc?).
Valetta would therefore become a truely historical momunent that stimulates the soul while our harbour region will become an integral part of a modern Malta.
The use of the old theatre site in Valletta will therefore, through this process, become academic.
ps it continues to amaze me how any topic can be made to become a LP bashing exercise. How terribly sad.
You are so right! I should have never descended to your level.
My apologies, but to me truth is never insulting.
Apologies for confusion of names
If we are in a historical mood Charles I might remind you of William Pitt the Younger who
made PM at 24. His distinguished career was characterised by his opposition to partisan
party politics.What would "Honest Billy" make of Malta's fratricide?
but that is an insult to the herring family.
Are you comparing Joseph to Theodore Roosevelt or JFK or Borg Olivier or even Joe Clark?
What was their track record before they became party leaders, let alone Presidents and Prime Ministers?
What is Joseph's track record? His anti EU stance for years and years, only to do an about face and get elected to the European Parliament? Nine months as Party leader, promising an earthquake and delivering nary a little giggle?
Get real, will you?
Quote “Better have seasoned politicians with twenty plus years experience than some novice whose aim is power and not the national interest” unquote. (Sic)
Some historical facts.
Theodore Roosevelt was 42 when he became president.
The legendary JFK entered the US House of Representatives at the age of 30. At the age of 43 he became President of the USA.
Joseph Clark was elected Prime Minister of Canada at the age of 39
Chris Watson became Prime Minister of Australia at the age of 37, Stanly Bruce at 39 and Robert Menzies at 43.
Sir Gerald Strickland entered politics at the age of 26.
Nerik Mizzi became party leader at the age of 36.
Sir Paul Boffa became party leader at the age of 37
George Borg-Olivier became Prime Minister at the age of 39.
Dom Mintoff became party leader at 33 when he reached the age of 60 the Nationalists started calling him ‘Nannu’
And now Malta is blessed with Joseph Muscat at 35
Young people are now the teachers, and their parents or grandparents, like me – are the students. And that’s an exciting prospect. We have a lot to learn from the young generation.
Although I admit being politically sympathetic to Laurence Schembri I cringe at his provocative posting that invites a similarly silly response from J.Martinelli.
As a non-Maltese I deplore this sort of exchange that achieves nothing in a country for which I have a great affection. Surely gentlemen we can do better than this?
That is exactly whay I said, unlike you I didn`t chose colours.
As for seasoning, I suggest Italian Salami.
If we can afford a bunch of street buskers led by a young motor mouth, then we can afford projects such as City Gate and the reconstruction of the old opera house site.
Better have seasoned politicians with twenty plus years experience than some novice whose aim is power and not the national interest.
I have no idea as to why Costa Rica was mentioned, but it struck a chord.
I visited Costa Rica for three weeks in 1962, on Saturday the 15th of September a Flamenca Evening was staged at the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica, even though Rock`n`Roll was more to my taste at that time, I said why not. It was a beautiful unforgettable classy evening. The Opera House is magnificent, gilted in Gold and seats ankle deep in a luxurious light green carpet, an experience not to be forgotten. thank you for jogging-up past memories
"Opera Houses from Cairo to Costa Rica continued/continue to thrive post 'TV'. "
Yes, let's build something like they have in Costa Rica. Excellent idea.
I was hoping that no one would come up with that insular and frayed cliché'.
Opera Houses from Cairo to Costa Rica continued/continue to thrive post 'TV'.
I have told gentle readers so many times that I actually attended a performance at that theatre in 1937 and was bored with Thais or the Monk's Temptation. I was very young then so that is my excuse. I wandered out of the box to the area behind where I found some Maltese children and we played some sort of a game.
I answer D Attard in that the building was erected during the Imperial period when Malta was ruled by barbarians from the north. Yes he makes the same conclusion as Bocca.and I concur.
Surely the site is too small for a modern opera house? I am of the opinion that the stones be removed ( as the earlier relics were moved to a field near the airport from where they were filched) and a garden created that can remain until Malta makes a decision -if it ever does.
The present situation is to Malta's shame.
My guess is that affordability is not an issue since the government announced an expenditure of some 80 million euros for the combined City Gate and the reconstruction of the old Opera house site.
The naysayers' contention will be what the new building be utilized for. Is it going to be another Opera House, or is it going to be a Parliament building?
I dare ask, why not both? Excavating one floor down and building one storey higher will surely accommodate both and with Renzo Piano's imagination, he may find that it would be feasible.
A point well taken that after a fire, the theatre was restored and back in business after two years or so but sixty six years after the hapless bombing we are still fudging an opportunity to eradicate the last scar from WWII.
One has to remember however, that when it was first ravaged by fire, it was in the Empire's interest to reestablish its cultural symbol whereas when money was in the hands of our local government through the War Damages Act, it was quickly redirected for other more 'pressing' needs.
One hopes that better heads prevail this time.
You missed a thing, In 1870 the theatre was the only place which offered entertainment
got the point now
So can someone explain the following:
A grand theatre actually stood on the site, built in the 1870's, was significantly damaged by fire a few years after its opening, yet was up and running a few years later.
The population at the time was what? 140,000 or thereabouts. Our GDP? Well surely nothing to phone/write/e-mail home about... Visitors? a few sailors I suppose. Education standards? well possibly germinating in some embryo.
Our population has today soared beyond the 400,000 mark, visitor numbers plus 1 million, our GDP way beyond the 1870's, part of the EU and all that, ...
So how come we do not afford something today that we could afford 140 years ago?
Are you donning the seer's cap, these days? Not that it was such an earth shattering prophesy! Even I can see that what you predict is already in the mill and has gone through its intro as soon as the intended use of the bomb crater was announced.
I will not even bet that FAA et al are already huddled and drawing their plans, aided and abetted by the experts in the LP camp. I'm keeping JPO out of this one for the moment.
Now watch for the 'usual names' to start the bashing!
Have a happy holiday, bocc.