De Montfort Hall
Encyclopedia
De Montfort Hall is a music and performance venue in Leicester
, England
. It is situated adjacent to Victoria Park
and is named after Simon de Montfort
, Earl of Leicester
.
in the early 20th century, and was finished in 1913 costing £21,000. The architect was Shirley Harrison (1876-1961) son of Stockdale Harrison, architect of Vaughan College.
Its indoor auditorium seating capacity
is approximately 2000, and the hall contains a recently restored pipe organ
believed to be the only surviving example of a large concert organ constructed by the Leicester organ builders, Stephen Taylor & Son Ltd. The organ is a particularly fine example, attracting many distinguished organists to play recitals.
The hall features in Grey Owl (film)
in a real life reenactment of director Richard Attenborough
's boyhood attendance of a wildlife lecture.
, which was set up by EMI and has been resident at the hall since 1997. The hall is said by the orchestra to be one of the best spaces in which to play music in England.
The Hall is also a common venue for the Leicester Philharmonic Choir, the Leicester Symphony Orchestra, the Bardi Symphony Orchestra and Bands which have performed several concerts there in the past.
It is also one of the major venues in Leicester to hold the Hindu festival of Navratri, selling out of tickets every year.
Events take place outdoors, including The Big Session Festival and the Summer Sundae
music festival, which takes place every year.
Graduation
ceremonies for the University of Leicester
and De Montfort University
take place in the hall.
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated adjacent to Victoria Park
Victoria Park, Leicester
Victoria Park in Leicester, England is a public park of 69 acres . It is in the south-east, just outside the city centre, backing on to the University of Leicester and close to the Leicester railway station....
and is named after Simon de Montfort
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
, Earl of Leicester
Earl of Leicester
The title Earl of Leicester was created in the 12th century in the Peerage of England , and is currently a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1837.-Early creations:...
.
History
The Hall was built by the Corporation of LeicesterLeicester City Council
Leicester City Council is a unitary authority responsible for local government in the city of Leicester, England. It consists of 54 councillors, representing 22 wards in the city, overseen by a directly elected mayor. It is currently controlled by the Labour Party and has been led by Mayor Sir...
in the early 20th century, and was finished in 1913 costing £21,000. The architect was Shirley Harrison (1876-1961) son of Stockdale Harrison, architect of Vaughan College.
Its indoor auditorium seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
is approximately 2000, and the hall contains a recently restored pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
believed to be the only surviving example of a large concert organ constructed by the Leicester organ builders, Stephen Taylor & Son Ltd. The organ is a particularly fine example, attracting many distinguished organists to play recitals.
The hall features in Grey Owl (film)
Grey Owl (film)
Grey Owl is a 1998 biopic directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Pierce Brosnan in the role of real life British schoolboy turned Indian trapper "Grey Owl," Archibald Belaney , and Annie Galipeau as his wife Anahareo. With brief appearances by Graham Greene and others. The screenplay was...
in a real life reenactment of director Richard Attenborough
Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
's boyhood attendance of a wildlife lecture.
Notable events
Most of the Hall's events take place in the indoor auditorium where the programme of events ranges from jazz, ballet, comedy and opera, to world and roots music, West End musicals and classical music, featuring the world famous Philharmonia OrchestraPhilharmonia Orchestra
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Great Britain, based in London. Since 1995, it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke...
, which was set up by EMI and has been resident at the hall since 1997. The hall is said by the orchestra to be one of the best spaces in which to play music in England.
The Hall is also a common venue for the Leicester Philharmonic Choir, the Leicester Symphony Orchestra, the Bardi Symphony Orchestra and Bands which have performed several concerts there in the past.
It is also one of the major venues in Leicester to hold the Hindu festival of Navratri, selling out of tickets every year.
Events take place outdoors, including The Big Session Festival and the Summer Sundae
Summer Sundae
Summer Sundae is an annual music festival held in Leicester, England which focuses on indie, alternative, and local music...
music festival, which takes place every year.
Graduation
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
ceremonies for the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
and De Montfort University
De Montfort University
De Montfort University is a public research and teaching university situated in the medieval Old Town of Leicester, England, adjacent to the River Soar and the Leicester Castle Gardens...
take place in the hall.