| Main Performers | Mr Henry Cole CB,
Marquis of Ripon - speakers
Organist |
| Orchestra or Band | Royal Artillery Band,
Band of the Grenadier Guards,
Band of the Coldstream Guards |
| Set List | Royal Private View of a Foreign and British Art Exhibition in Gallery
20:30 Procession of Exhibition Commissioners,
20:45 Royal entrance and procession,
'God Save the Queen' (The National Anthem) (Royal Artllery Band),
Speech (Marquis of Ripon),
Speech (Henry Cole CB),
Royal Private View of a Foreign and British Art Exhibition in Gallery,
Music (Band of the Grenadier Guards),
Address (HRH The Duke of Edinburgh),
Organ Recital (organist),
Military Music (Royal Artillery Band, Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards) |
| Royal Presence | HRH The Duke of Edinburgh,
HRH Princess Louise,
HRH The Duke of Cambridge,
Marquis of Lorne |
| Performance Notes | "On Saturday evening a brilliant reception in the Albert Hall, combining the variety of a fete with the attractions of a private view, inaugurated the International Exhibition of 1872. Nothing could have been better as a spectacle, and the eclat thus obtained will give the new show a start which may well carry it triumphantly through the season. There was an incliniation some time ago to disparage the notion of an annual display, and to conclude that, when the novelty had worn off, International Exhibitions would become stale. From present appearances the tide of popular opinion had set in a totally opposite direction, and, instead of the recurring displays being treated with neglect, they promise to become as indepensable accompaniements of each London season as Italian opera, flower shows, or the Royal Academy....
...the interior of the Albert Hall presented on Saturday evening a spectacle of unequalled splendour and pictorial beauty. The dimensions of that hall are, as all the world knows, colossal, and its proportions, accuratley calculated on those given by Justus Lipsius in his descriptions of the Amphitehatrum Romanum are almost faultlessly symmetrical, although with this drawback - that, precisely as a Roman amphitheatre was built in order that its occupants might see and not tthat they might hear, the interests if sound have naturally been sacrificed for those of sight, and everything conceded to the acoustic interested of the hall must detract more or less from its optical advantages. As regards decoration, the present embellishments of the interiors are, as in the case of the majority of English edifices, a combination of cleanliness and nakedness. A month of chromatic despotism - of the Alhambresque autocracy of Owen Jones - might have made the Albert Hall beautiful; as it is, it does not to any appreciable extent surpas in comeliness the vestibule of a county gaol. Artistic decoration and Royal Engineering would appear, however, to be incompatible pursuits, and we must take the Albert Hall, we suppose, as General Scott found it in poor Captain Fowke's folios. This distressingly barren and frigid theatrum tectum assumed, nevertheless, on Saturday an appearance as gorgeous as that of Tinteretto's hall at Venice, or that wonderful saloon which Giulio Romano painted at the Palazzo del Teatro Mantua. The ladies did it all. The magic words 'evening dress', which relegated the gentlemen from the vivid showiness of scarlet and lace to the sobriety of black coats and white cravate, threw wide open for the ladies a Golden Gate of magnificence... Mr Cole C.B., may pride himself on having given one of the most splendid and successful evening parties that have been witnessed for some years."
(The Daily Telegraph, 29 April 1872)
"An imposing army of policemen, volunteers, stewards, and officials, placed at every corner and door, all with a pleasant smile and the very pink of courtesy - it is always the case at South Kensington where the gentleman-amateur system prevails extensively - soon, however, marshalled the folks to their places, and by 8.30, the hour fixed for the arrival of the royal party, the great hall was crammed, though carriages still rolled up and kept adding to the gigantic audience. The upper galleries were quite packed, the boxes were full, the grand circle was a noble sight, and the arena, from which all seats had been removed was so thronged that the favoured possessors of tickets could hardly move hand or foot. Had the seats about the organ and choir the circle of faces would have been complete, and the picture perfect. The noble poportions of this striking hall were never seen to such advantage: the lighting was pronounced to be admirable, and the cold white of the interior was toned down by the gorgeous colour of the dresses, pointing out who was who, and listening to the Royal Artillery Band, which proved to be indefatigable.
...There is no lack of chairs or seats all over the hall: but most prefer to wander about the arena, taking occassional peeps at the royal box, backed by the omposing head of Mr Cole, and decorated with an Indian Nawab all jewels and gold lace."
(The Observer, 28 April 1872)
Season-ticket holders had a right to attend this reception in the Royal Albert Hall. Guests included her Majesty's Ministers, the Corps Diplomatique, and other VIPs. Sir Henry Cole and General Henry YD Scott RE were in attendance. A programme was distributed to audience members called 'The Programme of the Official Recpetion, Private View, and Performances of Vocal and Instrumental Music'.
TEach year from 1871 to 1874 an Annual International Exhibition was held in London. These followed on from the 1851 Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations and the 1862 International Exhibition in London, and the many international exhibitions which had been held in various countries since 1851. The first received over a million visitors and made a profit, but the subsequent three had fewer visitors and all made a loss.
The London International Exhibition of 1872 (1 May-30 September 1872), was devoted principally to the show of arts connected with printing, paper, music and musical instruments, jewellery, cotton goods, and fine arts. The exhibition was housed in the garden arcades and conservatory of the South Kensington Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gardens (to the South of the Royal Albert Hall) and the Royal Albert Hall. There were exhibitions of painting, sculpture, architecture, miscellaneous art, engraving, photography, lace and embroidery, Chinese and Japanese productions, cotton, jewellery, musical instruments, paper stationart and printing, horticulture, machinery, scientific inventions and new discoveries.
Exhibits came from the UK, India, Australia, Argentina, Austro-Hungary, Austria, Hungary, Baden, Bavaria, Belgium, Chili, Columbia, France, Hesse, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Rome, Russia, San Slvador, Spain, Sweden, Switzerlnd, United States of America, Venezuela and Wurttemberg.
Spaces used within the Royal Albert Hall:
Tea Rooms (Verdi) - Refreshments,
Main Auditorium - Concerts
Door 3, Door 6, Door 9 - Access to the exhibition
An official reception and private viewing was held by HRH Prince of Edinburgh who opened the Exhibition on 27 April.
Military bands played every day at four o'clock. 145 performances were held and performed by Band of the Royal Horse Guards (35 concerts), Scots Fusilier Guards (25 concerts), 2nd Life Guards (15 concerts), Honourable Artillery Company (14 concerts), Coldstream Guards (13 concerts), 1st Life Guards (12 concerts), Royal Engineers (7 concerts), Royal Artillery (6 concerts), London Irish Vounteers (6 concerts), Grenadier Guards (4 concerts), Police (4 concerts), Royal Marines (4 concerts).
A series of eight evening recitals in the Hall were organised by Herr Pauei [sp.] and an additional seven concerts in the daytime also in the Hall. |
| Related Archival Material | Illustrations (RAHE/9/1872/1-2) |