| Main Performers | The Countess of Derby,
Marchioness of Londonderry,
Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery,
Countess of Yarborough,
Countess of Ancaster,
La Comtesse Lucille de H.de Manin,
Lady Barnard,
Lady Newton,
Lady Pearson,
Lady Dawkins,
Mrs Alfred Harmsworth,
Mrs Spender,
Hon. Sydney Holland,
Mrs Reginald Garratt,
Viscount Castlereagh,
Grand Duke Michael of Russia,
Countess Torby,
Lady Leconfield,
Princess Hatzfeldt,
Lord Willoughby de Eresby,
Mary, Princess of Hamilton,
Earl of Derby,
Countess of Kimberley,
Countess Amherst,
Countess of Crewe,
Lady Faudel-Phillips,
Lady Evelyn Cobbold,
Baron de Stern,
Lady Stirling-Maxwell,
Mrs Frank Mackey,
Hon. Mrs Walter Vanneck,
Mr C E Schwann,
Walter Palmer,
Lady O'Hagan,
Mrs Adrian Hope,
Mrs Arthur Paget |
| Orchestra or Band | Orchestra,
Band of the Grenadier Guards |
| Set List | 22:00 Band of the Grenadier Guards;
Valse 'Reponse a l'Amoureuse', Berger,
Valse 'Visionen', Gung'l (sp.),
Polka 'The Belle of New York', Lawton,
Valse 'Tresor d'Amour', Waldteufet,,
Lancers 'Sousa', Sousa,
Valse 'Chorister', Favell,
Barn dance ' Happy Darkies', Godfrey,
Quadrille 'Merrie England', German,
Valse 'Rose', Margin,
Valse 'Floradora', Stuart,
Two Step 'Kunnin Kaffirs', Rubens,
Valse 'Mon Reve', Waldteufet,
Polka 'Tric-Trac', Fahrbach,
Valse 'Doctrinen', Strauss,
Valse 'Amoureuse', Berger,
Lancers 'A Country Girl', Monckton,
Valse 'Meile', Waldteufet,
Two-step 'Uncle Reraus', St Maur,
Valse L'Etoile Polaire', Waldteufet,
Lancers 'San Toy', S Jones,
Valse 'Bleue', Margi,
Valse 'Jeunes Doree', Waldteufet,
Polka 'Pierrot', Marone,
Lancers 'Terrador', Caryll and Monckton,
Galop 'John Peel'
00:00 Nine Midnight Quadrilles (organised by Mrs Arthur Paget)
00:30 Suppers |
| Royal Presence | HRH The Princess Hatzfeldt,
TRH The Grand Duke Michael of Russia and Countess Torby,
HRH Mary, Duchess of Hamilton |
| Performance Notes | Four thousand people attended, many having paid ten times the ticket price of a guinea for this charity event. The Hall was festooned with roses, and an international quadrille was danced by eight sets, dressed to represent the great nationalities of the world.
"The ball which was given last night at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of the London Hospital was attended by some 4,000 ladies and gentlemen. The hall was effectively decorated with long festoons of red coloured paper, which hung from a cone-shaped pendent of electric incandescent lights to the top of the second tier of boxes. On the outskirts of the arena about 30 electric light standards were fixes at regular intervals. These were adorned with roses and other decorations, and festoons connected one standard with the other. The orchestra was similarly decorated. The scene was brilliant , the ladies fancy costumes being, in most cases very picturesque. Among the dances was a set of quadrilles in which many nations were represented, including Great Britain, France, Germany and Russia. From 10 o'clock until the early hour this morning the arena was crowded with dancers, while the stalls and boxes were filled with spectators."
(The Times, 10 June 1903)
Electrical fittings and lighting undertaken by the Alliance Electrical Company, 137 Regent Street.
The 4000 tickets available could be purchased from the Social Bureau, 30 New Bond Street W.
Approxiamately £3000 was raised for the hospital fund.
Box occupants organised supper parties within them after midnight. Other guests not in boxes were served supper in the crush rooms behind the orchestra where up to 320 visitors could sit down at a time. Other rooms were also set apart for supper and refreshments from various buffets. According to The Daily Telegraph report the next day, 12,000 plates and knives, 16,000 forks, 8,000 glasses, 5,000 napkins and 8,000 spoons were used.
The decorations were designed by Mrs Richard Belt; "...From a ring placed just above the central electrolier hung a graceful canopy, formed of chains of bright pink roses, the festoons stretching down to the third tier of boxes, where they ended in a mass of green foliage. The arena itself was encircled by ornamental standards, bearing incandescent lamps, from which electricty shed its rays, softened by many-tinted shades, while each standard was connected by a festoon of bright-hued roses - crimson, pink, and scarlet predominating - which made a festal garland round the central space assigned to the night's dancers. From the top of each of the grand tier boxes was suspended a basket of pink and red and white roses and other flowers, set off by ferns and grasses, while the huge orchestra was adorned with towering palms and decorative plants."
(The Daily Telegraph, 10 June 1903) |
| Related Archival Material | Illustrations (RAHE/9/1903/2) (RAHE/9/1903/3) |