In 1953 six renowned architects submitted designs for the new theatre. The ruins of the Opera House, in 2006, with the interior used as a car parkĪlthough the bombed site was cleared of much of the rubble and all of the remaining decorative sculpture, rebuilding was repeatedly postponed by successive post-War governments, in favour of reconstruction projects that were deemed to be more pressing. Īll that remained of the Opera House were the terrace and parts of the columns. There is a claim that German prisoners-of-war in Malta offered to rebuild the theatre in 1946 with the Government declining due to Union pressure the more likely reason was that hardly anyone of these prisoners of war could be expected to be qualified masons. The remaining structures were levelled down in the late 1950s as a safety precaution. The rear end starting half way from the colonnade was however intact. The portico and the auditorium were a heap of stones, the roof a gaping hole of twisted girders. The next morning a people hardened by aerial bombing inspected the remains of their national theatre. On the evening of Tuesday, April 7, 1942, the theatre was devastated by Luftwaffe bombers. Some 65 years later, tragedy struck the Royal Opera House again: The ruins of the Opera House can be seen on the right. Strada Reale in Valletta after an air raid. On 11 October 1877, after nearly four and a half years from the fire, the theatre reopened with a performance of Verdi's Aida. It was decided to rebuild the theatre, and after the issuing of tenders for the work and a lot of arguing whether the front had to be changed or not, the theatre was ready. The exterior of the theatre was undamaged but the interior stonework was calcified by the intense heat. The theatre was not to last long on, a mere six years after its opening, it was brought to a premature end by a fire.
After four years, the Opera House, with a seating capacity of 1,095 and 200 standing, was ready for the official opening on 9 October 1866. The building of the 206 feet (63 m) by 112 feet (34 m) site started in 1862, after what was the Casa della Giornata was demolished. This resulted in a terrace being added on the side of Strada Reale (nowadays Republic Street) designed by Maltese architects. The original plans had to be altered because the sloping streets on the sides of the theatre had not been taken into consideration.
The design of the building was entrusted to Edward Middleton Barry, the architect of Covent Garden Theatre, and the classic design plan was completed by 1861.
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