The Royal Albert Hall

150 years of exclusive art shows

Top Classical, February 2021
With a capacity for more than 5,000 people, The Royal Albert Hall is one of the most important venues in London. Over 390 large-scale events are held here every year, including music concerts, ballet, opera and film screenings, award ceremonies and community events. 

Originally named the Central Hall of Arts and Sciences, which explains the mosaic of artists and scientists that adorns the roof, the building is situated in Albertopolis, the South Kensington district. 

During his lifetime, Prince Albert was committed to the arts, culture, and education for the benefit of his nation. When Queen Victoria laid down the foundation stone in 1867, she changed its name to pay homage to her late husband, Prince Albert, who had passed away six years earlier. She used a golden shovel to do the honor. 

At the top of the building, we can admire the circle of mosaic patterns of 800 feet long covering an area of 5,200 square feet. Seen from the north side counterclockwise, there are 16 themes such as music, sculpture, painting, prominent artists and royals, agriculture, and aerospace.  The gigantic glass dome that covers Royal Albert Hall spans over 20,000 square feet and is the largest unsupported glass dome in the world. The ceiling is not physically attached or adhered to the building but rather just sits on top as its weight keeps it in place.  

Since ancient times, the Royal Albert Hall has been an important venue for large-scale events. Some of those highlights include the first time The Beatles and The Rolling Stones performed together on the same lineup in September of 1963.  But also the speech of South African President Mandela during his visit to the United Kingdom in 1996, the launch of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix JK Rowling in 2003 and the Lang Lang Piano recital, the Adele concert, the Hawking symposium on black holes, now the BBC Proms or The Royal College of Art The graduation ceremony.  

Before the 1960’s Royal Albert Hall had been also famous for lousy acoustics. Artists and composers alike complained they could hear themselves twice with the echo and delay being so bad. So, to solve this problem they brought in 135 fiberglass acoustic diffusers that look like upside-down mushrooms thus giving it its nickname of Mushroom Ceiling. Today they have been cut down to 85. 

The iconic venue is finishing the preparations to celebrate 150 years of music. A program of events including major new commissions, headline shows and historic community events beginning on 29 March 2021 – exactly 150 years on from its opening – and extend into 2022. Highlights include a special birthday concert, led by multi award-winning Bond composer David Arnold. Swan Lake choreographer Matthew Bourne will stage The Car Man – his contemporary take on Bizet’s well-known opera Carmen. 

In a recent interview, the venue’s chief executive, Craig Hassall said “Despite the devastating impact of the pandemic, which has closed our treasured building to the public for the first time since the Second World War, we are determined to host a full celebration of our 150th anniversary.”