Malta Opera House

About this website

This website started life as a 'campaigning' site to draw attention to decisions to scrap the theatre status of Valletta's Opera House bomb site.

We worked closely and in a way complimented the Facebook group which attracted more than 3,500 members all opposed to these original plans. Equally this site was attracting many visitors from across Europe and well beyond. We will always be extremely grateful to the many Maltese across the political spectrum and others who supported, publicly and privately, our vision and that of thousands.

We were never concerned with the architectural aspect - we just wanted to see theatre return after 67 years as a bomb site.

You can read the 'archived' site here.

In June 2009 Malta's Prime Minister reversed his idea to replace theatre with a parliament building and now the status of theatre is secured.

So now we are are going to follow the developments of this site as the builders move in and theatre is restored. We will follow the plans, the ideas, the public opinions (left: The Royal Opera House in wartime - this poignant picture was taken in 1942, shortly after much of this much loved venue was reduced to rubble by enemy bombers).

We are are going to investigate the fascinating and turbulent history of the Opera House from original conception in the 1860's, the fire and rebuilding in the 1870's. the heyday of the Opera House and the events leading up to and after the building was destroyed by enemy action in April 1942 as well as the on-off plans and controversies to rebuild it which lasted almost 70 years.

This website will be a fascinating celebration of theatre as a new page turns and the Opera House in Valletta enters a new phase in its story.

Cover Page

Introduction

About this website

new Going Topless (and wall-less)

Memories of the Opera House

History of the Opera House

Rough Beginnings

The Rebuilding

The Hey-Day

War and Destruction

Post War Controversies

Coming soon ... features, opinions, plans, editorial contributions and developments