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Royal Albert Hall Facts & Worksheets

The Royal Albert Hall is one of the UK's most treasured concert halls located in South Kensington, London.

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One of the most cherished and distinctive buildings in the United Kingdom, the Royal Albert Hall can be found on the outskirts of South Kensington in London. Managed by a registered charity that does not accept funds from the government, the property is held in trust for the nation as a cultural building that serves as a performance venue.

See the fact file below for more information on Royal Albert Hall, or you can download our 29-page Royal Albert Hall worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

History

  • The Hall was originally going to be called the Central Hall of Arts and Sciences; however, when Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone in 1867, she changed the name to the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences in memory of her late husband, Prince Albert, who had passed away six years earlier. 
  • The success of the Great Exhibition, which was held at the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park in 1851, led to the construction of the Royal Albert Hall. The Great Exhibition was a world fair that celebrated industry and culture. During an era of increasing industrialization and imperial expansion, it served as a showcase for the advancement of contemporary technology and national progress. The shields are a representation of the economic wealth and inventiveness that existed during that time.
  • On March 29, 1871, the Hall was formally opened to the public for the first time. Initially, this was planned to take place on 1 May to mark the twentieth anniversary of the inauguration of the Great Exhibition, but at the request of Queen Victoria, it was moved a month earlier. The Prince of Wales, Edward, offered some warm words of welcome in his speech.
  • A Walk of Fame was inaugurated at the Hall in 2018, and the first eleven recipients of a star included the Suffragettes, Winston Churchill, and Albert Einstein, all of whom gave speeches at the Hall; Muhammad Ali, who had exhibition events at a venue that he dubbed a “helluva hall”; and Eric Clapton. The Suffragettes (a group of women activists) held meetings at the Hall, and they were among the first 11 recipients of a star.

Interesting Facts

  • Since Queen Victoria opened the hall in 1871, the stage has been graced by some of the most accomplished performers in the world across a wide variety of performance fields. Since 1941, it has served as the location for the Proms concerts, which are hosted there annually during the summer. 
  • Over six million red bricks and 80,000 terracotta blocks were used in the construction of the elliptical edifice, which took its design cues from Roman amphitheaters. It is adorned with a mosaic frieze that depicts people from many countries bringing their wares to the Great Exhibition. 
  • There was an issue with the sound quality because there was an excessive amount of echo. It was not until 1969 that any action was taken in response to the problem. 
  • The solution that was suggested to address the issue was to suspend fiberglass acoustic diffusers from the roof of the auditorium. The ceiling was rigged in such a way that its convex shape bounced sound back down towards the ground. Today, they are nicknamed “mushrooms” or “flying saucers.” They significantly improve the sound of the music.
  • At first, the Yorkshire Fibreglass Company manufactured a total of 135 “mushrooms,” However, in 2001, after more developed acoustic testing was conducted by Peutz Associates, 50 diffusers were taken out of the mushrooms, and the remaining 85 were rearranged.

Construction and Structure

  • The construction of the Royal Albert Hall took a total of four years to complete. While the main structure was erected in London, the roof was constructed in Manchester. It was disassembled before being transported by train to the nation’s capital, and then it was reassembled when it finally arrived.
  • The roof is not connected to the structure of the Hall and merely rests atop the structure. When it was installed, the weight of the roof caused the Hall to sink by a fraction of a millimeter because of the pressure it exerted.
  • The circumference of the Hall is guarded by 63 shields. Although they all have the same border, they display different sets of charges. The majority of charges are repeated, while others only occur once.  Heraldic symbols, royal monograms, national emblems, and the crests of individuals with ties to the hall are all emblazoned across the shields.
  • They stand as a representation of the powerful individuals and lofty goals that were the impetus for the conception and building of the Hall. When seen within the framework of their respective historical periods, the shields illustrate references to the social, cultural, and political climate that existed at the time they were crafted. To some people, they resemble terracotta sculptures, while others see them as technological achievements and architectural embellishments.

Inspirations

  • The famous Roman Colosseum is one of the main design inspirations for the Royal Albert Hall. The amphitheater accommodates numerous columns of different orders throughout the structure. The most prominent features are its arched windows and elliptical shape.
  • The vaults and domes seen in the Pantheon were built by the Romans using semicircular arches. It is no doubt that arches and domes used in designs all over the world originated from the Romans. Marble was too expensive for Roman builders to utilize, so they used other materials instead, like terracotta, stone, and brick. Red bricks and terracotta are among the primary materials used in the construction of the Hall.
  • Performance halls inspired the construction of walls, domes, and vaulted roofs made of solid concrete, concrete with brick ribs, and structures that were faced with marble or mosaic.
  • Friezes are also evident in most Roman structures, such as the Parthenon. The Royal Albert Hall also shows an ornate frieze along its circumference.
  • The Hall was initially meant to have a capacity of 8,000 people, however, in the earlier times, it had been known to accommodate as many as 12,000, although present-day safety restrictions mean the maximum permitted capacity is now 5,272 including the standing room in the Gallery.

Performances

  • Since its construction in 1871, the Royal Albert Hall has maintained its status for nearly 150 years as one of the most popular places to enjoy live entertainment in London. The edifice, which is designated as Grade I, has survived two world wars and appears virtually the same as it did during the reign of Queen Victoria.
  • When the Hall first opened its doors in 1871, the Grand Organ was the second largest instrument in the UK. Since then, artists like Pink Floyd, Muse, Frank Zappa, and McFly have utilized it during their performances at the Albert, and it was also featured on the soundtrack of the Disney film Tron.
  • The Royal Choral Society has given regular performances at the Hall since 1872, when it originally opened its doors under the name Royal Albert Hall Choral Society. They hold the record for the longest-running performance series at the hall. Beginning in 1876, it started the custom of performing Handel’s Messiah on Good Friday each year. 
  • The BBC Sir Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, also known as “The Proms,” is a popular yearly summer season that lasts eight weeks and includes daily concerts of classical music as well as other events at the Royal Albert Hall. After an airstrike in 1942 rendered the Queen’s Hall unusable, the Hall was selected as the new location for the Proms the following year. 
  • Since 1988, Raymond Gubbay’s Classical Spectacular has entertained audiences at the Hall with their performances. It blends well-known pieces of classical music with various lighting effects and other additional effects.
  • Since January 2003, Cirque du Soleil has put on a new show each year as part of their annual performance schedule. As a result, many of Cirque’s touring acts had to be modified for them to be performed at the venue. These shows were originally designed to be performed in arenas or large top tents.
  • Since 2000, the Hall has played host to the Classic Brit Awards on an annual basis in May. The British Phonographic Industry is in charge of organizing them.
  • The Royal British Legion hosts the Festival of Remembrance before Veterans Day, also known as Remembrance Sunday.
  • A performance at the Royal Albert Hall is frequently included as part of the touring itinerary of the most successful acts in the world. Artists like Adele, Harry Styles, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, and Fred Astaire have been among them in the past.

Royal Albert Hall Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Royal Albert Hall across 29 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about the Royal Albert Hall, which is one of the UK’s most treasured concert halls located in South Kensington, London.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Royal Albert Hall Facts
  2. Know The Performers
  3. Know Your Facts
  4. Walk of Fame
  5. Safety First
  6. Crossword Puzzle
  7. Fix The Echoes
  8. The Birth of The Hall
  9. Check Your Understanding
  10. Investigating Inspiration
  11. What’s an Organ?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Royal Albert Hall most famous for?

Some of the most famous moments in musical and boxing history have taken place at the Hall. This includes when Emmeline Pankhurst spoke on women’s rights, Albert Einstein gave a lecture on his theory of relativity, and Muhammad Ali fought his greatest rival.

How did the Royal Albert Hall get its name?

Queen Victoria decided to open the Royal Albert Hall in 1871 as a way to remember her late husband, Prince Albert. This would help fulfill his dream of spreading knowledge and appreciation for the Arts and Sciences throughout South Kensington.

Why was Albert Hall built?

Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, originally envisioned the Royal Albert Hall to be named Central hall. His dream was for it to foster an appreciation of the Arts and Sciences.

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Link will appear as Royal Albert Hall Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 22, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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