The Royal Albert Hall

Photo:  PA

The red carpet stretched down the grand steps to the Royal Albert Hall last night to welcome the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, who were guests at the premiere of the latest James Bond movie Skyfall.  This is not a normal location for film premieres, but proved to be a stunning venue to celebrate the release of Skyfall which comes 50 years after the launch of the first Bond film, Dr. No.

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 23^rd 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.

Photo:  PA