Royal Albert Hall in London: Behind the scenes at the capital's iconic venue
It’s one of the most famous venues in the city, host to countless world-class performances and with well over a century of history behind it — but how much do you know about the Royal Albert Hall?
To find out more, GO London went behind the scenes of the iconic cultural landmark, meeting some of the people involved with the running of the remarkable building.
It has been the scene of some incredible musical performances over the years — from Adele’s tear-jerkingly brilliant show in 2012 to the formation of “the greatest professional orchestra ever assembled” almost 100 years prior — as well boxing matches, ballet, tennis and more.
Preserving that legacy is the job of Alicia Kirkbride, assistant archivist at the Royal Albert, who tells us about all the different relics stored at the venue from over the years.
Michael Broadway is in charge of the venue’s centrepiece: the grand organ. As custodian of the instrument, which was first played all the way back in 1871, Broadway is responsible for the upkeep of the one-tonne beast — including each of its 9,999 pipes.
Watch the video above to hear more from Kirkbride, Broadway and others involved with the venue, giving a fascinating glimpse into the parts of the Royal Albert Hall the public never usually get to see.
