Unknown cellist hires Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is one of London's most prestigious venues

An unknown cellist who says he has been snubbed by the music industry is to headline a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, after hiring it himself.

Dave Loew, 55, who has played with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic, said he has sold 100,000 CDs around the world.

But he has had to release three albums himself, and now hopes to attract 3,900 people to fill the venue.

He said he would spend £55,000 staging the concert on 23 March 2005.

Loew's repertoire ranges from Vivaldi and Granados to The Beach Boys and Elvis Presley.

'Arrogant'

Major record labels that had been taken over by big corporations did not understand what music fans wanted, he said.

"The problem is with the bean counters who have lost touch with the public, it is a kind of arrogance."

He wants to put together a 30-piece orchestra for the concert, he said.

"The venue is so intimate, it's a very special place and I can remember playing there in the 1970s at the Proms.

"Even then I knew I'd be back one day to play with my own orchestra."

A spokesperson for the Royal Albert Hall said a cellist had been pencilled in for that date, although the show had not been confirmed.