Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is an arts venue situated in the South Kensington area of the
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It was opening by Queen Victoria in 1871,
where a lot of new artists appear here. Every year they have more than 350
performances like classical concerts, rock, pop, ballet, opera…

Originally, it supposed to have been called The Central Hall of Arts and Sciences, but
the name was changed by Queen Victoria to Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences.

History

In 1851 the Great Exhibition was in Hyde Park, where Crystal Palace was built. The
exhibition was a success and led Prince Albert (Prince Consort) to propose that a series
of facilities be built in the area for the public. The progress was slow and in 1861 Prince
Albert died. However, the memorial was proposed by Hyde Park, with a Great Hall
opposite. The proposal was approved. In April 1867 Queen Victoria signed the Royal
Charter of the Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Sciences which was to operate the
Hall and on 20 May.

The opening ceremony of the Royal Albert Hall was on 29 March 1871. After a speech
by Edward (Prince of Wales), Queen Victoria spoke, so the Prince had to announce that
"The Queen declares this Hall is now open”.

In 1936, the Hall was the scene of a rally celebrating the British Empire, when was
being the centenary of Joseph Chamberlain's birth.

Use

The Royal Albert Hall has played a lot of events and figures and has been titled "The
Nation's Village Hall". The first concert at the Hall was Arthur Sullivan's cantata, On
Shore and Sea, which was performed on 1 May 1871. However, a single Spanish lady,
Masiel, won with her song Lalala. There are some fotos of Royal Albert Hall and Masiel
singing this marvelous song.