Grand Re-Opening

The Royal Hall formally opened to the public with a Grand Opening spread over three nights. On Sunday 27th April 2008, an Inaugural Gala Concert was performed by the renowned Halle Orchestra conducted by Mark Elder. The programme consisted of the Meistersinger von Nurnberg; Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 (soloist Benjamin Frith); Weber Jubel Overture and Elgar's Enigma Variations. After the concert, 500 major supporters of the Trust were entertained to a Banquet in the adjacent Banquet Hall hosted by the Trust's Honorary President, Edward Fox OBE.

On the following night, Manchester Camerata performed Mozart's Overture to the Marriage of Figaro; Beethoven's Symphony No 8 and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 5 - 'Emperor' (soloist Michael Roll).

On Tuesday 29th April, Edward Fox, Joanna David and pianist Lucy Parham performed "Beloved Clara" - an enactment of the poignant and tragic story of Robert and Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms as expressed through their music, diaries and letters.

Dame Fanny Waterman DBE; Dame Liz Forgan DBE; Lord Crathorne; Lady Crathorne; Edward Fox OBE; Joanna David; David Mawson; Marjorie Childs	Phil Willis MP; Heather Willis; Paul Sykes; Valeria Sykes; Dame Liz Forgan DBE
Mitzi Mina; Phil Willis MP; Heather Willis; Howard Hughes; Lady Crathorne; Lord Crathorne	Edward Fox OBE; Joanna David; Robert Fox
Edward Fox OBE introduces the Halle Orchestra	Halle Orchestra
Halle Orchestra	Tribute to the late Lilian Mina MBE in the foyer
Champagne interval in the ambulatory	Commemorative champagne flute
Banquet hall	Appreciative audience
Standing ovation for the Halle Orchestra	Joanna David; Lord Crathorne; Mrs Elder; Mark Elder CBE; Howard Hughes; Edward Fox OBE; Benjamin Frith; Robert Fox
Banquet in full swing	Accompanied by a string quartet
Floodlit Royal Hall

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