Royal Opera House, Valletta
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The Valletta Royal Opera House was an opera house and performing arts venue in Valletta, Malta. It was designed by English architect Edward Middleton Barry and was erected in 1866. In 1873 its interior was extensively damaged by fire but was eventually restored by 1877. The theatre, Valletta's most imposing landmark, was bombed to the ground during World War 2 in 1942.
[edit] History
The design of the building was entrusted to Edward Middleton Barry, the architect of Covent Garden Theatre. The original plans had to be altered due to the fact that the sloping streets on the sides of the theater hadn’t been taken into consideration. This resulted in a terrace being added on the side of Strada Reale (Republic Street).
The building of the 206 feet by 112 feet site started in 1862, after what was the Casa della Giornata was demolished. After four years, the Opera House, with a seating capacity of 1095 and 200 standing, was ready for the official opening on October 9, 1866.
The theater was not to last long; on May 25, 1873, a mere six years after its opening, it was brought to a premature end by a fire. The exterior of the theatre was undamaged but the interior stonework was calcified by the intense heat.
It was decided to rebuild the theater, and after the issuing of tenders for the work and a lot of arguing whether the front had to be changed or not, the theater was ready. On October 11, 1877, after nearly four and a half years from the fire, the theater reopened with a performance of Verdi's Aida.
On the evening of April 7, 1942 the theater was destroyed by German bombers. The portico and the auditorium were a heap of stones, the roof a gaping hole of twisted girders. The rear end starting half way from the colonnade was however intact. While the war lasted there was little hope of reconstructing the theater.
In 1953, six renowned architects submitted designs for the new theater. The Committee chose Zavellani-Rossi's project and recommended its acceptance by Government subject to certain alterations. The project ground to a halt on Labour's re-election, contending that it was not in a position to spend so much money on a theater when so many other projects needed attention. Although a provision of 280,000 pounds for the reconstruction of the theater had been made in the 1955-56 budget, these were never used. By 1957 the project had been shelved and after 1961 all references to the theatre in the country's development plans were omitted.
[edit] Recently
After more than sixty years, the site has not changed, although recently, the government proposed to turn it into a parliament building, claiming that the parliament has to be vacated from the presidential palace in order to be restored to its former glory. This proposal was opposed by the general public. Currently the area is being used as a temporary open-air performance space.
