What happened on the Barbican's opening night?

1982 had been an notable year for the Queen, too. Just less than a month before the opening, she had celebrated 30 years on the throne.

"What has been created here must be one of the wonders of the modern world", she said. She knew the site well, having laid a foundation stone in 1972.

This is the official invitation to the opening event, sent by the Corporation of London. Guests were advised to wear dinner jackets.

This brochure is the programme for the opening night at the Barbican.

The programme lists the entertainment on offer to visitors on the opening night: a showcase of what was to come. There were performances by the LSO and RSC, as well as two exhibitions to visit. The night ended with a firework display.

The opening brochure gave a timeline of the building's design and eventual completion. There was other useful information, like the background of the Administrator, Henry Wrong.

This picture, by Peter Bloomfield, shows the London Symphony Orchestra performing in the Barbican Hall.

Here's another shot of the Hall, showing the space full of guests.

This picture by Peter Bloomfield shows people enjoying some drinks in the foyers during the opening celebrations.

We also have some mementos from the opening celebrations in our Archive, such as this bronze coin. Stamped on one side with the Barbican 'four Bs' logo, it was made as a commemorative memento of the opening.

The other side of the coin reminds the holder of who funded it all - the City of London Corporation.