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 大象传媒 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鈥檚 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
Last on
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 Victoria聮s diary read by Josie Lawrence
00:04Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Invocazione all'Armonia
Choir: Purcell Consort of Voices. Conductor: Grayston Burgess.- Decca 4802092.
00:05Jean 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
00:10Edward 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
00:13Ethel Smyth
March of the Women
Performer: Eiddwen Harrhy. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Plymouth Music Series. Conductor: Philip Brunelle.- Virgin VC7590222.
00:14The Chemical Brothers
The Boxer
Performer: The Chemical Brothers.- Freestyle Dust CHEMSDJ23.
00:15Alex Gifford
History Repeating
Performer: Shirley Bassey.- Wall of Sound.
00:19Mike Oldfield
Tubular Bells from The Exorcist
Performer: The Big Screen Orchestra.- Union Square Music 聳 USMCD028.
Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall: A celebration in 150 unforgettable moments, read by Josie Lawrence
00:21Johann Sebastian Bach
Toccata & Fugue in D minor, BWV565
Performer: Harold Britton.- Resonance CDRSN3016.
00:23Gavin 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
00:25Lowell 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
00:27Milton 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
00:32Philemon Hou
Grazin' in the Grass
Performer: Hugh Masekela.- Uni (55066).
00:35Stephen Sondheim
Broadway Baby from Follies
Performer: Caroline O鈥機onnor. Orchestra: 大象传媒 Concert Orchestra. Conductor: David Charles Abell.- Live Recording from 大象传媒 Proms 2012??.
00:39Johann 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
00:42Edward Elgar
Extract from Violin Concerto
Performer: Yehudi Menuhin. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Elgar.- Warner Classics 2564677705.
00:45Bob Dylan
Desolation Row
Performer: Bob Dylan.- CBS SBPG 62572.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Extract from I Am Waiting, read by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
00:48David 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
00:51Benjamin Britten
Young Apollo for piano, string quartet & string orchestra (Op.16)
Performer: Steven Osborne. Orchestra: 大象传媒 Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ilan Volkov.- Hyperion CDA67625.
00:54Kraftwerk
The Model
Performer: Kraftwerk.- EMI 5207.
Sally Alexander
Sally Alexander on disrupting the 1970 Miss World Competition
00:55Trad.
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
Performer: Paul Robeson. Performer: Lawrence Benjamin Brown.- ASV CD AJS 244.
00:58Paul 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
01:08Richard 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
01:12John Lennon
Extract from A Day in the Life
Composer: Paul McCartney. Performer: The Beatles.- Parlophone PMC 7027.
Broadcasts
- Sun 4 Apr 2021 17:30大象传媒 Radio 3
- Boxing Day 2021 18:00大象传媒 Radio 3