Massey Hall was the premier venue for concerts in Toronto when the theater began in 1894. The National Historic Site of Canada remains operational yet has been augmented with another concert facility owned by the same non-profit corporation. The futurist-looking Roy Thomson Hall opened in 1982 with performances by its two primary tenants: the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Since then, it has also staged a long list of international artists plus hosted countless dignitaries including Queen Elizabeth II on two occasions. The hall is named after the main benefactor, Roy Thomson. He was a major media entrepreneur in Canadian radio, TV and newspapers during the 20th century until his death in 1976.
