Queen's Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queen's Hall |
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Queen's Hall from Langham Place, 1912
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| General information | |
| Status | Destroyed |
| Type | Concert hall |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Location | Westminster, London |
| Town or city | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Opened | 25 November 1893 |
| Destroyed | 10 May 1941 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Thomas Knightley |
The Queen's Hall was a famous concert hall in Central London, England. It first opened its doors in 1893. It is most famous for being the place where the Promenade Concerts (often called the Proms) began in 1895. These concerts were started by a man named Robert Newman.
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What Was the Queen's Hall?
The Queen's Hall was built because London needed a new, big concert hall. It was located in Langham Place, right next to where the BBC Broadcasting House is today. The main hall could hold up to 3,000 people, including the orchestra.
Special Features of the Hall
The main floor, called the arena, had seats that could be moved. This meant the shiny floor could also be used for dancing! The sound quality, or acoustics, in the hall was excellent. There was also a smaller hall, called The Queen's Small Hall. This smaller hall could seat 500 people. It was often used for chamber music, which is music played by a small group of instruments. Later, it became a place where music was recorded. The person who designed this amazing building was an architect named Thomas Edward Knightley.
When Did the Queen's Hall Open?
The very first time the Queen's Hall was used was on 25 November 1893. Robert Newman, who started the Proms, held a children's party there in the afternoon.
The First Concert and Dance
In the evening of that same day, about 2,000 people came for a concert. The Band of the Coldstream Guards played music. There were also singing, piano, and organ solo performances. At 11:00 PM, the seats were moved, and everyone started dancing! The official opening of the hall happened a few days later, on 2 December. On 10 August 1895, the very first Promenade concert took place. It was conducted by the famous Henry Wood.
Early Public Movie Show
On January 14, 1896, the Queen's Hall hosted one of the first public movie shows. Members of the Royal Photographic Society and their wives watched the film.
Changes and Famous Performances
At first, the seats in the hall were not very comfortable. There wasn't much room for people's legs. So, in 1913 and again in 1919, the hall was changed. After these updates, it could seat 2,400 people.
Broadcasts and Recordings
From 1930 to 1941, the BBC Symphony Orchestra often played concerts there. These concerts were broadcast on the radio. A famous conductor named Arturo Toscanini also made some well-known recordings in the Queen's Hall in the late 1930s.
The End of the Queen's Hall
The Queen's Hall was destroyed during World War II. On 10 May 1941, the Royal Choral Society and the London Symphony Orchestra gave a concert there. They performed a piece called The Dream of Gerontius by Edward Elgar. Sir Malcolm Sargent was the conductor.
The Hall's Destruction
This was the very last concert ever held at the Queen's Hall. Later that same night, the hall was completely destroyed by bombs during the Blitz.
What Happened After the Destruction?
After the Queen's Hall was destroyed, the BBC Symphony Orchestra moved. They started doing their broadcast concerts and recordings at Bedford School.
The Proms Continue
The Proms concerts also had to find a new home. They continued at the Royal Albert Hall. For a short time, they also took place in Bristol and Bedford. But after the war ended, the Proms settled permanently at the Royal Albert Hall, where they are still held today.
Images for kids
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Knightley's plan for the platform level of the hall
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Robert Newman, manager of the Queen's Hall Orchestra from 1893 to 1926
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Royal concert in 1893
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Poster for Albert Chevalier at the Queen's Small Hall
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Sir Henry Wood's Queen's Hall Orchestra, rehearsing for the first Promenade Concert of the 1927 Season, from the BBC Hand Book 1928
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Bust of Sir Henry Wood, rescued from the wreckage of the hall in 1941
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The Queen's Hall green plaque
See also
In Spanish: Queen's Hall para niños
