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150 Years of The Royal Albert Hall

Beat poets Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti read there. Miss World, boxing matches and the Proms have been staged there. Mike Oldfield to Hugh Masekela have played there.

From Bach to The Beatles, beat poetry to a boxing match - The Royal Albert Hall marked its 150th anniversary this year and this Words and Music features readings performed by Royal Albert Hall regulars Josie Lawrence and Petroc Trelawny. We include moving and amusing moments from the Albert Hall archive, including Emmeline Pankhurst calling on her followers to meet once more at the Hall on the eve of her trial, and a former Head of Music at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ who was outraged by a young lady who exposed more than he felt was necessary to Prommers in 1977. You'll hear archive recordings of Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti reading at the International Poetry Incarnation in 1965, and Sally Alexander tells the story of storming the stage at the 1970 Miss World Contest. The rich musical history of the hall is reflected in a soundtrack which includes music by Prince Albert himself, as well as Elgar conducting Yehudi Menuhin, Hugh Masekela (who appeared when Nelson Mandela was honoured there in 2013), Billie Holiday, Paul Robeson, Mike Oldfield and Shirley Bassey who have all famously performed there.

Readings

Extract from The Royal Albert Hall Frieze
Extract from Queen Victoria’s diary
Extract from In Memoriam by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Extract from The Daily Telegraph, June 30th 1914
On The Eve of Her Trial. A Message from Mrs Pankhurst
From Royal Albert Hall: A celebration in 150 unforgettable moments
The Convergence of the Twain by Thomas Hardy
From Royal Albert Hall Programme for The Chelsea Arts Club Annual Ball 1936
Some Bright Elegance read by Kayo Chingonyi
Extract from letter by Sir Henry Wood
Extract from I Am Waiting by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Annus Mirabilis by Philip Larkin
Extract from Who Be Kind To by Alan Ginsberg
Extract from letter by Robert Ponsonby
Extract from The Daily Mirror

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Boxing Day 2021 18:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    George Frideric Handel

    Messiah, Pt.3, no.46; The Trumpet shall sound [bass air]

    Performer: Matthew Brook. Performer: Chris Dicken. Ensemble: Dunedin Consort. Conductor: John Butt. Conductor: John Butt.
    • LINN CKD285.

  • Royal Albert Hall

    Extract from Royal Albert Hall Frieze read by Petroc Trelawny

  • Queen Victoria

    Extract from Queen VictoriaΒ’s diary read by Josie Lawrence

  • 00:04

    Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

    Invocazione all'Armonia

    Choir: Purcell Consort of Voices. Conductor: Grayston Burgess.
    • Decca 4802092.
  • 00:05

    Jean Sibelius

    Andante Festivo

    Performer: Unknown.
    • Finalndia FACD 003.

  • Alfred, Lord Tennyson

    Extract from In Memoriam read by John Gielgud

  • The Daily Telegraph

    Extract from The Daily Telegraph, June 30th 1914, read by Petroc Trelawny

  • 00:10

    Edward Elgar

    Land of Hope and Glory

    Performer: Clara Butt.
    • Pearl Gem CD9301.

  • Emmeline Pankhurst

    Extract from On The Eve of Her Trial. A Message from Mrs Pankhurst, read by Josie Lawrence

  • 00:13

    Ethel Smyth

    March of the Women

    Performer: Eiddwen Harrhy. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Plymouth Music Series. Conductor: Philip Brunelle.
    • Virgin VC7590222.
  • 00:14

    The Chemical Brothers

    The Boxer

    Performer: The Chemical Brothers.
    • Freestyle Dust CHEMSDJ23.
  • 00:15

    Alex Gifford

    History Repeating

    Performer: Shirley Bassey.
    • Wall of Sound.
  • 00:19

    Mike Oldfield

    Tubular Bells from The Exorcist

    Performer: The Big Screen Orchestra.
    • Union Square Music Β– USMCD028.

  • Royal Albert Hall

    Royal Albert Hall: A celebration in 150 unforgettable moments, read by Josie Lawrence

  • 00:21

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    Toccata & Fugue in D minor, BWV565

    Performer: Harold Britton.
    • Resonance CDRSN3016.
  • 00:23

    Gavin Bryars

    The Sinking of the Titanic for ensemble and tape: Titanic Hymn: Autumn

    Performer: Gavin Bryars Ensemble.
    • Point Music 446-061-2.

  • Royal Albert Hall

    Royal Albert Hall: A celebration in 150 unforgettable moments, read by Josie Lawrence

  • 00:25

    Lowell Mason

    Nearer My God to Thee

    Choir: San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • SFA Media 2193600762.

  • Thomas Hardy

    The Convergence of the Twain read by Timothy West

  • 00:27

    Milton Ager

    Happy Days are Here Again

    Lyricist: Jack Yellen. Performer: Lou Abelardo. Ensemble: Ambrose and His Orchestra.
    • Saville Records SVL 147.

  • Royal Albert Hall

    From Royal Albert Hall Programme for The Chelsea Arts Club Annual Ball 1936, read by Josie Lawrence

  • Kayo Chingonyi

    Some Bright Elegance read by Kayo Chingonyi at the Royal Albert Hall's Elgar Room, 2013

  • 00:32

    Philemon Hou

    Grazin' in the Grass

    Performer: Hugh Masekela.
    • Uni (55066).
  • 00:35

    Stephen Sondheim

    Broadway Baby from Follies

    Performer: Caroline O’Connor. Orchestra: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra. Conductor: David Charles Abell.
    • Live Recording from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Proms 2012??.
  • 00:39

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    Air on a G string

    Music Arranger: Henry Wood. Music Arranger: Henry Wood. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Henry Wood. Conductor: Henry Wood. Conductor: Henry Wood.
    • Conifer 75605 52961 2.

  • Henry Wood

    Extract from letter by Sir Henry Wood read by Petroc Trelawny

  • Henry Wood

    Sir Henry Wood speaking at The Last Night of the Proms 1943

  • 00:42

    Edward Elgar

    Extract from Violin Concerto

    Performer: Yehudi Menuhin. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Elgar.
    • Warner Classics 2564677705.
  • 00:45

    Bob Dylan

    Desolation Row

    Performer: Bob Dylan.
    • CBS SBPG 62572.

  • Lawrence Ferlinghetti

    Extract from I Am Waiting, read by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

  • 00:48

    David Bowie

    All the Young Dudes

    Performer: Mott the Hoople.
    • CBS 65184, S 65184.

  • Royal Albert Hall

    Royal Albert Hall: A celebration in 150 unforgettable moments, read by Josie Lawrence and Petroc Trelawny

  • 00:51

    Benjamin Britten

    Young Apollo for piano, string quartet & string orchestra (Op.16)

    Performer: Steven Osborne. Orchestra: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ilan Volkov.
    • Hyperion CDA67625.
  • 00:54

    Kraftwerk

    The Model

    Performer: Kraftwerk.
    • EMI 5207.

  • Sally Alexander

    Sally Alexander on disrupting the 1970 Miss World Competition

  • 00:55

    Trad.

    Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen

    Performer: Paul Robeson. Performer: Lawrence Benjamin Brown.
    • ASV CD AJS 244.
  • 00:58

    Paul McCartney

    Blackbird

    Performer: Brad Mehldau Trio.
    • Warner 9362462602.

  • Philip Larkin

    Annus Mirabilis read by Philip Larkin

  • Allen Ginsberg

    Extract from Who Be Kind To, read by Alan Ginsberg

  • Robert Ponsonby

    Extract from letter by Robert Ponsonby read by Petroc Trelawny

  • 01:08

    Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

    Blue Moon

    Performer: Billie Holiday.
    • Verve Records 527 693-2.

  • The Daily Mirror

    Extract from Daily Mirror article, read by Josie Lawrence

  • 01:12

    John Lennon

    Extract from A Day in the Life

    Composer: Paul McCartney. Performer: The Beatles.
    • Parlophone PMC 7027.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 4 Apr 2021 17:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
  • Boxing Day 2021 18:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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