Did you know that according to the ancient Greeks, there are six different types of love? From creative soulmates to friendship through epic romance, this extraordinary Valentine’s Day we wanted to celebrate them all with a selection of iconic duos from our history:

Victoria & Albert

We have to begin with the couple that started it all for us: Victoria and Albert. Their love story is memorialised in the Hall – after all, Queen Victoria did rename us last minute in honour of her late husband.

Here’s some inspiration courtesy of Albert for your lockdown Valentine’s Day card(s): “In joyful expectation of the moment of our reunion, I remain your devoted [insert name].”

Liz & Phil

As the Royal Albert Hall, we have our very own Liz and Phil. That’s our Archive Manager, Liz, and Phil from tours, who answer your questions about the weird and wonderful history of the Hall.

Christine & the Phantom

Sierra Boggess as Christine and Ramin Karimloo as The Phantom during the 25th Anniversary of 'Phantom of the Opera' at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011

Just because we’re all wearing masks at the moment doesn’t mean we all have to become obsessed with a beautiful soprano and start living in the subterranean labyrinth beneath the Paris Opéra House. The epicness of the title song of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical still gives us chills though.

Watch the 25th anniversary version below, performed by Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo at the Hall in 2011:

Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett

The unlikely pair graced our stage on two nights in 2015 to celebrate the release of their collaborative album Cheek to Cheek. Lady Gaga told the Guardian that Tony saved her life and that she would have given up singing if it wasn’t for him. 11/10 very wholesome friendship, would recommend.

Signatures of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga from a Royal Albert Hall Autograph Book 2015

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett in 2015

Kylie Minogue & Elton John

What happens when these two join forces to raise money for LGBT rights? Let’s just say we are grateful to have had a photographer in that night.

Damon Albarn & Noel Gallagher

This is one unlikely friendship. From rivals in the 90s to ending the biggest Britpop feud on stage at the Hall in 2013 when Noel joined Damon, as well as Blur guitarist Graham Coxon and Paul Weller, for a now-legendary version of Tender.

Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher performing on stage during the Teenage Cancer Trust series at the Royal Albert Hall in 2013

Louise Brealey & Benedict Cumberbatch

Letters Live brought an epic epistolary event to the Royal Albert Hall in 2019 that featured a fairly unbelievable line-up. A lot of fun duos that night, both backstage and on stage, but in this instance we simply had to pick the love letter read by Benedict and Louise:

Dave Chappelle & Jon Stewart

What’s better than one comedy legend? Two comedy legends who are friends. Their chemistry on and off stage is simply a joy to witness. Watch our interview with them here if you don’t believe us.

Dave Chappelle and Jon Stewart at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 21 and Monday 22 October 2018

Mariah Carey & Luther Vandross

We’re not crying, you’re crying. Just one of the best duets ever. No matter who you’re spending Valentine’s Day with, this is a must-listen.

Beyonce & Jay-Z

The Carters sharing our stage in 2006, pre the whole Becky-with-the-good-hair drama. 12 years later, Everything Is Love came out to round off a trilogy of confrontational albums about their marriage. That collaborative album was a celebration of the resilience of love.

Jay-Z and Beyonce performing at the Royal Albert Hall in 2006

Chas & Dave

Rockney heroes and lifelong Tottenham fans Chas & Dave brought their knees-up blend of music hall, boogie-woogie and traditional rock ‘n’ roll to the Royal Albert Hall on 25 April 2014 for the duo’s first headline performance at the venue. Thank you Chas & Dave for turning us into the city’s largest public house that night!

Chas and Dave performing on stage at the Royal Albert Hall in 2014

Noel Fielding & Russell Brand

One of the greatest bromances in British comedy. It made sense that the “most haunted venue in London” (according to Classic FM) would at some point host the Goth Detectives, which we did during the Teenage Cancer Trust series in 2013.

Comedians Russell brand and Noel Fielding live on stage at the Royal Albert Hall during the Teenage Cancer Trust series in 2013

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9 ways you can support us

This extended closure has put the Royal Albert Hall, like many other venues, in a perilous situation.

Without shows on we have lost our major source of funding, but there remains a number of ways you can continue to support the Royal Albert Hall during this crisis:

Find out more Donate now