Aeolian Hall (London)

For the Aeolian Hall in Canada, seeAeolian Hall (London, Ontario).

Salon of theVocalionwarerooms, Aeolian Hall (1916)

Aeolian Hall,at 135–137New Bond Street,London,began life as theGrosvenor Gallery,being built byCoutts Lindsayin 1876, an accomplished amateur artist with a predeliction for theaesthetic movement,for which he was held up to some ridicule. In 1883, he decided to light his gallery with electricity. Anouthousebecame a substation, and equipment was installed in the basement, which upset some of the neighbours, and caused others to buy electricity from him. Thus began the system of electrical distribution in use today, but the threat of fire ended these activities, and by 1890, Lindsay was forced to sell out to the Grosvenor Club. By 1903 the whole building was taken over by the Orchestrelle Company of New York (the Aeolian Company). As manufacturers of musical instruments, and especially the mechanical piano-player known as the pianola, they converted the space into offices, a showroom, and a concert hall.

Aeolian Hall was a popular venue for the Russian recitalistVladimir Rosing.The hall was even turned into an intimate opera house for one set of performances. In June 1921 Rosing presented, with directorTheodore Komisarjevskyand conductorAdrian Boult,a season ofOpera Intime,performingThe Queen of Spades,The Barber of Seville,andPagliacci.On 12 June 1923 the first performance ofFacade,music byWilliam Walton,poems byEdith Sitwell,took place.

After the destruction of theirSt George's Hallstudios in March 1943,theBBCtook it over for the recording and broadcast of concerts and recitals. The premises are currently converted to office use but remain otherwise intact.

External links

Media related toAeolian Hall, Londonat Wikimedia Commons

• History of the London Aeolian Hall