Royal Albert Hall
Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone for a new memorial hall on the 4th of May 1867. The project began as a tribute to Prince Albert, who had died six years earlier in 1861. Civil engineers Captain Francis Fowke and Major-General Henry Y. D. Scott designed the structure using ideas from ancient amphitheatres. They also studied concepts by Gottfried Semper while working at the South Kensington Museum. The building rose from Fareham Red brick with terra cotta block decoration made by Gibbs and Canning of Tamworth. A wrought iron dome designed by Rowland Mason Ordish covered the main auditorium. Workers assembled the iron framework in Manchester before shipping it to London by horse and cart. When the supporting structure was removed after reassembly, only volunteers remained on site. The dome dropped slightly during this process but did not collapse completely. Engineers scheduled completion for Christmas Day 1870, yet Queen Victoria visited just weeks prior to inspect progress. The official opening ceremony took place on the 29th of March 1871. Edward, the Prince of Wales delivered the welcoming speech because his mother felt too overcome to speak herself.
The first concert featured Arthur Sullivan's cantata On Shore and Sea performed on the 1st of May 1871. Acoustic problems became immediately apparent during that performance. Engineers initially tried removing strong echoes by suspending a canvas awning below the dome. This solution helped shelter concert-goers from sun but failed to solve the echo issue entirely. Critics joked that the hall was the only place where a British composer could be sure of hearing his work twice. In July 1871, French organist Camille Saint-Saëns performed Church Scene from Faust by Charles Gounod. The Orchestra described his performance as exceptional with marvellous effects despite the acoustic challenges. A colour bar existed between 1923 and 1932 preventing black boxers from fighting there. In 1949, the canvas awning was removed and replaced with fluted aluminium panels below the glass roof. These changes did not properly tackle acoustics until 1969 when large fibreglass acoustic diffusing discs were installed. People commonly called these floating structures mushrooms or flying saucers. They hung below the ceiling to improve sound quality throughout the auditorium.
The BBC Sir Henry Wood Promenade Concerts known as The Proms have been held every summer since 1941. Following destruction of the Queen's Hall in an air raid during World War II, this venue became the new home for the festival. Part of the season moved to Bedford Corn Exchange in 1944 due to increased danger to the hall itself. After the war ended, the Proms continued annually without interruption. The event was founded in 1895 and now each season consists of over 70 concerts plus additional events across the United Kingdom. In 2009, total concert numbers reached 100 for the first time. Jiří Bělohlávek described The Proms as the world's largest and most democratic musical festival of its kind. Promenaders often stand during performances while others sit in designated areas. The Royal Choral Society has given its first performance as the Royal Albert Hall Choral Society on the 8th of May 1872. From 1876 onward it established the annual Good Friday performance of Handel's Messiah. This tradition continues today alongside other regular events like the Festival of Remembrance held annually the day before Remembrance Sunday.
The hall first hosted boxing in 1918 when it staged a tournament between British and American servicemen. A colour bar prevented black boxers from fighting there between 1923 and 1932. Greats such as Frank Bruno, Prince Naseem Hamed, Henry Cooper and Lennox Lewis all appeared at the venue. The hall lost its licence to hold boxing and wrestling matches in 1999 after complaints about noise levels. Legal battles restored the licence in 2011 allowing boxing events to resume in 2012. Nicola Adams won the WBO Flyweight title in 2019 which marked the first fight for a world title since Marco Antonio Barrera took on Paul Lloyd in 1999. German physicist Albert Einstein led the Einstein Meeting at the hall for the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics in 1933. Winston Churchill delivered speeches here during his political career. Charles de Gaulle also spoke at this location. Suffragettes held meetings within these walls throughout the twentieth century. In October 1942, minor damage occurred during World War II bombing but German pilots used the distinctive structure as a landmark.
Between 1996 and 2004, the hall underwent renovation supported by £20 million grants from Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Architecture firm BDP designed thirty discreet projects without disrupting ongoing events. Improvements included better ventilation more bars restaurants seating technical facilities backstage areas. Circle seating rebuilt during June 1996 provided legroom access sightlines. The largest project involved building a new south porch accommodating restaurant box office loading bay. Steps leading down to Prince Consort Road were demolished to allow underground vehicle access. Three HGVs could now carry equipment brought by shows through the subterranean loading bay. On the 4th of June 2004, the project received Europa Nostra Award for remarkable achievement. Between 2002 and 2004, great organ Voice of Jupiter rebuilt with 9,997 pipes in 147 stops. It became second-largest pipe organ in British Isles after Liverpool Cathedral's Grand Organ. In 2018, Walk of Fame unveiled with first eleven recipients including Suffragettes Winston Churchill Albert Einstein Muhammad Ali Eric Clapton. Clapton performed over 200 times since 1964 stating playing here feels like being in his front room.
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Common questions
When did Queen Victoria lay the foundation stone for Royal Albert Hall?
Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone on the 4th of May 1867. The project began as a tribute to Prince Albert who had died six years earlier in 1861.
Who designed the structure of Royal Albert Hall and when was it officially opened?
Civil engineers Captain Francis Fowke and Major-General Henry Y. D. Scott designed the structure using ideas from ancient amphitheatres. The official opening ceremony took place on the 29th of March 1871.
What acoustic problems affected Royal Albert Hall during its early concerts?
Acoustic problems became immediately apparent during the first concert featuring Arthur Sullivan's cantata On Shore and Sea performed on the 1st of May 1871. Engineers initially tried removing strong echoes by suspending a canvas awning below the dome but failed to solve the echo issue entirely until 1969.
How long has the BBC Sir Henry Wood Promenade Concerts been held at Royal Albert Hall?
The BBC Sir Henry Wood Promenade Concerts known as The Proms have been held every summer since 1941. Following destruction of the Queen's Hall in an air raid during World War II this venue became the new home for the festival.
When did Royal Albert Hall lose and regain its licence to hold boxing matches?
The hall lost its licence to hold boxing and wrestling matches in 1999 after complaints about noise levels. Legal battles restored the licence in 2011 allowing boxing events to resume in 2012.