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| Photo: PA |
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| Naomie Harris & Daniel Craig Photo: The Picture Library |
This magnificent building in the heart of Kensington was
built on land purchased with the profits of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and
opened in 1871. Prince Albert, Queen
Victoria’s husband, had a vision of a Central Hall which would be used as
dedicated area for the promotion of Art and Science. Unfortunately Prince Albert did not survive
to see his Central Hall of Arts and Sciences, and following his premature death
from typhoid in 1861 Queen Victoria named the building the Royal Albert Hall in
dedication to her beloved Prince Consort.
The design of the building was started by Captain Francis
Fowke of the Royal Engineers based upon the
Roman Amphitheatres, following his death Major Henry Darracott Scott completed
the plans for Lucas Brothers to build.
Constructed in Fareham Red brick, with terracotta block decoration and
a dome made from steel and glass. Henry
Cole was the driving force behind the construction of the Hall, having achieved
great success with the Great Exhibition of 1851; it was his energy which
ensured the project was successful.
The frieze which runs around the top of the building is
an inscription in 12 inch terracotta letters which combines historical facts
and biblical quotations.
With a grand organ which is one of the largest
instruments in the world at 70 feet high with nearly 10,000 pipes, it was soon
apparent that the hall was not suitable for music due to a terrible echo from
the domed roof. The problem was finally
solved when 135 ‘mushrooms’ filled with glass fibre wool were hung from the
dome in 1969. Now it is a world famous venue seating over 5,500 people, priding
itself on the diverse range of events which fill the hall almost every night of
the year.
During seven weeks of the summer months it is home to the
Sir Henry Wood Promenade Concerts – known as The Proms, when visiting orchestras, famous soloists and conductors
join the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the famous last night is typically a very
rowdy evening. The very moving Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance is
held in November and the tone changes at the beginning of December for the
Masters Tennis championships.
The floor of the hall has been flooded to make a
water garden for Madam Butterfly; frozen
for ice-skating; turned into a boxing ring for the likes of Muhammad Ali and
Frank Bruno and has hosted most of the world’s top singers, whether they be
classical, rock or heavy metal.
As the Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrived at The Royal Albert Hall for the
premiere of the 23rd Bond film, it is worth remembering that Shirley
Bassey performed the Bond theme songs Diamonds are Forever and Goldfinger on the stage in June 2011, as a climax to the memorial concert for the composer John Barry.
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| Photo: PA |
