Birmingham Town Hall

exterior, Birmidngham Town Hall. Created as home for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival established 1784. Between 2002 and 2008, refurbished into concert hall, now used for organ recitals, rock, pop and classical concerts and graduation ceremonies for Aston University. Joseph Hansom, of Hansom cab fame, and Edward Welch, architects. Modelled on the Temple of Castor and Pollux in Rome. Charles Dickens gave public readings here to raise money for the Birmingham and Midland Institute, and Mendelssohn's Elijah and Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius premiered here. Sir Arthur Sullivan's 'Overture di Ballo' premired August 1870, as part of the Triennial Musical Festival which commissioned new works for every season. The hall was the home venue for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 1918 until 1991 when they moved to Symphony Hall.