Celebrating 100 years of The Royal Albert Hall
Introduced by The Scaffold
with Sir John Gielgud, Sir John Betjeman, John Snagge
London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Bryan Kelly
Gillian Weir (organ)
The Royal Choral Society who also celebrate their centenary this year
One hundred years ago a dream became a reality - born out of the profits of the 1851 Exhibition - inspired by the memory of the Prince Consort - realised in iron and stone and terra-cotta, The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences
The centre of an expanding, optimistic Victorian universe. Here under one roof would be a meeting place for all the skills - music, painting and (for where had the money come from?) the manufacturing industries as well.
With such lofty and worthy ambitions the hall was doomed to success. This programme, recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, recounts the personalities and events that have led to that success.