Royal Albert Hall's record year celebrated with festive opening The famous London venue will screen prize-winning film The Artist - with the score played by the London Symphony Orchestra - as it continues a push to appeal to a wider audience. Revenues rose 4 per cent in 2012 to £16.8 million as the management hosted shows as diverse as Masters Tennis, Emeli Sande and the premiere of James Bond blockbuster Skyfall. Jasper Hope, chief operating officer, told the Daily Telegraph: "We wanted to be open to more types of events. We have always been a building of great variety. We have been more open minded about the types of events we can put into the auditorium. Traditionally the Albert Hall is in a "dark period" between Christmas and New Year as the venue is prepared for the Cirque de Soleil. A mix of the traditional, the new and increased sponsorship from "branded areas" helped the venue generate an operating surplus - a profit - of £4.5 million. This goes towards the upkeep and advancemetnt of the Hall. Some 377 shows were put on last year, attracting 1.58 million people. Members paid £1.72 million in 2012, up from £1.32 million in 2011, in line with an increase designed to help with refurbishment work.