Immersive Mamma Mia! The Party musical to be adapted by Sandi Toksvig The Bake Off presenter will pen the story for the piece AuthorAlex WoodLocationsLondon28 September 2018
Bake Off and QI presenter, writer and comedian Sandi Toksvig will adapt the book for the brand new immersive Abba dining experience at the O2.
Mamma Mia! The Party is set on a Greek island, where guests are treated to a meal while the show unfurls around them, before culminating in a big 1970s disco.
Toksvig said: "This has been a dream job – writing this adaptation mainly because I want to go to it myself and I got to hang out with the legend that is Björn."
The piece has music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (some songs with Stig Anderson), and a story by Calle Norlén, Roine Söderlundh and Björn Ulvaeus. It will be directed by Roine Söderlundh, with set design by Bengt Fröderberg, costumes design by Annsofi Nyberg, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe and sound design by Gareth Owen.
The piece, which begins previews on 29 August 2019, is booking until 18 November 2019 with tickets going on sale next Tuesday at 9am.
------------------------- Sandi Toksvig to adapt Mamma Mia! spin-off show for London audience
Mamma Mia! The Party – pictured in Stockholm – will come to London next year, adapted by Sandi Toksvig. Photo: Dewynters
Newsby Georgia Snow - Sep 28, 2018
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Sandi Toksvig will adapt the story for the Mamma Mia! spin-off show when it opens at the O2 in London next year.
The writer and broadcaster will adapt Calle Norlen, Roine Soderlundh and Bjorn Ulvaeus’ original story into English for the immersive theatrical and dining experience, Mamma Mia! The Party.
The show has been running in Stockholm since 2016.
Set in a Greek taverna, Mamma Mia! The Party will take place in a venue within the O2 which is being adapted by Steve Tompkins of Haworth Tompkins.
It will seat 500 audience members, who will experience the show alongside a Mediterranean meal.
The show has been created by Abba’s Ulvaeus, with producer Ingrid Sutej, and features music and lyrics by Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
Toksvig said of her involvement: “This has been a dream job – writing this adaptation mainly because I want to go to it myself and I got to hang out with the legend that is Bjorn.”
Mamma Mia! The Party previews from August 29, 2019, and opens on September 19.
It will be directed by Soderlundh, with set by Bengt Froderberg, costumes by Annsofi Nyberg, lighting by Patrick Woodroffe and sound by Gareth Owen.
Date september 24, 2018
source instagram: i_travel_alone
text photo: "Benny attended the premiere of his musical "CHESS på svenska" at Svenska Teatern in Helsinki earlier this month. He was very happy with the production. CHESS received excellent reviews in the press. Already 42.000 tickets have been booked/sold. But, there ARE tickets in different price categories available. CHESS closes in the end of April 2019"
CHESS på svenska" at Svenska Teatern in Helsinki on september 8, 2018
"Lola" with Tommy Körberg, at Circus on September 22, 2018
Björn and Tommy Körberg will work together again in the play "Lola".
At Cirkus...
Premiere, 22 september, 2018
"The story of Lola is both spoken and sung by Tommy. The songs used in the play are all famous song from the 40ths till current time with a range of Swedish songs, Leonard Cohen, Charlie Chaplin, Randy Newman and a quite new song written by Björn Ulveaus and Benny Andersson. Most of the songs has a new translation or lyrcis by Björn Ulveaus, Peter Dalle or Thomas Andersson Wij. The new text are really good and brings the story forward. All songs are in a style which is perfect for Tommys vocal register. It's a real pleasure to hear him sing songs like "Smile". Tommy is playing Lola with a lot of love and care. The character is a bit arrogant and self centered. Tommy is perfect as this old man dressed in women cloths. There has been a lot of sequins used in the very colorful and nice kaftans designed by Camilla Thulin".
photo: Micke Bayart / Azul
BWW Review: LOLA at Skandiascenen Cirkus
by Annette Stolt Sep. 24, 2018
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BWW Review: LOLA at Skandiascenen Cirkus
Tommy Körberg is perfect as Lola (dress rehearsal 21st of September)
Tommy Körberg has now reach the age of 70 so he has a long career in Sweden as a singer as well as a musical artist. He's been playing in Les Miserable, My Fair Lady, Sound of Music to mention a few. He is probably most famous for originating Anatolij in Chess, both in the concert version as well as in the original cast on West End in London. He was also Anatolij in the Swedish version of Chess a few years later. Since then "Anthem" is one of his key songs.
Tommy is now back at Cirkus and the Skandiastage in the musical monologue Lola where he plays the aged artist Lola who just performed his very last show. He returns to the stage in order to pack his kaftans and other personal items and finds that there still is an audience in the seats. First he asks us to leave, but then he offers to sing a last song. He then tells us about his childhood, how he started to enjoy getting dressed in dresses and high heels as little boy hiding the cloths in a box under his bed. His father did not approve and he had to move out quite early in life. He travelled around Europe and start to sing and made himself a name as Lola. However he still wanted to be accepted by his father as the person he is, but did not get any approval not until very late in life. The story of Lola is both spoken and sung by Tommy. The songs used in the play are all famous song from the 40ths till current time with a range of Swedish songs, Leonard Cohen, Charlie Chaplin, Randy Newman and a quite new song written by Björn Ulveaus and Benny Andersson. Most of the songs has a new translation or lyrcis by Björn Ulveaus, Peter Dalle or Thomas Andersson Wij. The new text are really good and brings the story forward. All songs are in a style which is perfect for Tommys vocal register. It's a real pleasure to hear him sing songs like "Smile". Tommy is playing Lola with a lot of love and care. The character is a bit arrogant and self centered. Tommy is perfect as this old man dressed in women cloths. There has been a lot of sequins used in the very colorful and nice kaftans designed by Camilla Thulin.
Carl Flemsten plays the piano throughout the play in a very tender and soft way. Sunil Munshi came up with the idea to the play and is also directing the show. The message in the play is important, why can't we just be accepted as the persons we are?
The play is about 90 minutes long with no interval and I did really enjoy the dress rehearsal. I think it is one of the best performances I've seen with Tommy Körberg when he's been on his own. The story is good and touching and Tommy sings the songs perfectly.
Lola is played 22nd of September till the 3rd of November 2018.
21 092018
Bjorn attended Peter Jöbacks show "Med hjärtat som insats"
"Tonight was the opening night of the Peter Jöbacks show "Med hjärtat som insats" (With the heart at stake). And as with an opening night champagne was served and the Swedish celebrities such as Björn Ulveaus, Tommy Körberg, Sarah Dawn Finer and Emmi Christensson (She played Christine with Peter in Phantom of the opera in Stockholm) was there. This was one of the main event for the season to attend"
WW Review: PETER JÖBACK HIS GREATEST SHOW 'MED HJÄRTAT SOM INSATS' at Cirkus
by Annette Stolt Sep. 20, 2018
Tonight was the opening night of the Peter Jöbacks show "Med hjärtat som insats" (With the heart at stake). And as is it should on an opening night champagne was served and the Swedish celebrities such as Björn Ulveaus, Tommy Körberg, Sarah Dawn Finer and Emmi Christensson (She played Christine with Peter in Phantom of the opera in Stockholm) was there. This was one of the main event for the season
Peter calls this show a Pop Theatre as it only includes music from his various records, except from musicals and as it also has a story line it is not just a concert. The story is about "The Artist" and his search for love and recognition. The audience follow him on his trip to Paris, London, New York and back to Stockholm. Anyone who has followed Peter through his career will notice the similarities to his life and the struggles he been through, as well as his successful career and his hard work to get there.
During the years, Peter has worked with a variety of artists, and for this show he has chosen some of them with different types of talents. Jens Hulthén (actor) and Elin König Anderssons (acrobate), Marianne Mörck (singer), Gunilla Backman (singer and musical artist), Frida Öhrn, (singer) Karl Noremo (muscial artist and dancer) and Daniel Mauricio (dancer). Gunilla and Jens plays the artist's mother and father, but otherwise there is no one who has a fixed role but appears as different people that the artist meets during his journey.
The show stars with a pre-show where Jens is our host. Elin, the acrobate, performs an impressive number. The ensambele sings a few of Peters hits, "Higher" and "Under my skin" with new orchestration as part of the pre-show. The jokes in the pre-show is a bit lame but the songs and the acrobatic number is good.
Even the introduction of the main show feels a bit lame and trivial at the same time the song "Tiden Tiden " in Paris is a bit stressed. It's starting to get a bit more interesting with the Depeche Mode song "Somebody" but the really excitement and one of the night's absolute highlights is the song "What If tomorrow never comes". In this song, Peter sings with passion and energy and a perfect pop voice and from this moment on he has the audience in the palm of his hand. This is one of the new songs featured on the Humanology album whch will be released the 26th of October. And it's the new songs that, with a few exceptions, are the best in the whole show. This is the turning point in the show and now it is absolutely world class on the show. An other part of the show which is really strong is"Everybody Hurts", which is performed as a form of group therapy, and Frida Öhrn shines with her special bright voice. The grand finals is absolutely amazing with several of the new songs and one of my favorite "Believer". The story about the artist ends with a nice version of "Stockholm", Peter's tribute to his hometown, Frida Öhrn is a genius on harmonica and I'm glad she is allowed to show it off in one of the songs. Marianne Mörck makes the audience laugh and she also shows that she can sing during the evening.
There is a huge variety of costumes in the show, ranging from circus-inspired costumes, devil clothes, gospel coats, beige lingerie, but above all Peter is wearing really nice suits, specially the leather suit in the big finale that fits him like a glove. He is really good looking in it.
There is a really nice slide show on the walls around the auditorium and the lighting is great. Many nice pictures in the slide show around the room that reinforce the feeling that we are in Paris, London, New York or Stockholm. Or just fire and candles as in the finals. Super Stylish!
The orchestra is great.
Pop theater is a great term of this kind of performance. It's pop and there's a storyline which the different songs tells. Recently, Peter has been doing a lot of musical such as Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. But in this show the emphasis is on his career as a pop singer. And with the new songs which he has written with Tobias Fröberg and Kathryn Williams he shows he is a great pop artist as well as the songs suits him perfectly. I've been looking forward to hear his new songs since I heard "Believer" in London 2014 and it has really been worth the wait. "Believer" is really good in its new, slightly more up beat version. It's a song that sticks in your head.
The premier ended as it should with a large mountain of flowers and everyone working on this production, received the audience's standing ovations.
The show runs till the 15th of December and I do recommend you to get at ticket as this is a modern show and Peter shines in it.
ABBA's BBC TV documentary special will not air in December as their new song 'I Still Have Faith In You' isn't ready yet.
The Swedish pop superstars - Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Frida Lyngstad - teased the track along with 'Don't Shut Me Down', their first new music in 35 years made for their forthcoming avatar tour, in April, but songwriter Benny has now revealed they are delaying the festive programme until 2019 to complete the songs.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: "It was planned for the end of this year.
"But I think we are talking about the beginning of next year now.
"I am very proud of both songs. One is like a pop song from the Seventies. The other one is kind of timeless."
The broadcaster also confirmed that the show - which had a running title of 'Thank You For The Music' - is now going to air next year.
They said: "The ABBA TV special will be broadcast in 2019."
Bjorn previously teased that the new songs are "uplifting" and "timeless".
He said: "One of them is a pop tune, very danceable.
"The other is more timeless, more reflective, that is all I will say. It is Nordic sad, but happy at the same time.
"I think that exuberant quality of the two ladies [Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad] together singing, that makes the saddest song a bit uplifting. I think that is what happens and that [it] is very organic: [it] isn't calculated, [it] just happened that way."
The 'Dancing Queen' hitmakers got back together for their hologram tour, which sees the four members projected in avatar form.
Benny had hinted that a third song could be released once the tour is launched.
He said: "Yeah it is but don't tell anyone. If we do a third one, it won't be out until we go on the road."
However, he has cast doubt on the band releasing a full album of new material unless there is a "really good reason".
He said: "It's good to have a reason to do what you do and this avatar tour is a reason to come up with something.
"Doing another album is like doing 'Mamma Mia 3', what is the point unless there is a good reason, good script, good environment? It is such a joyful experience, so that is a reason to do it."
The group - who shot to fame after winning 'The Eurovision Song Contest' in 1974 - will be giving fans the chance to see their biggest hits and new songs performed on their digital tour by computer-generated 'Abbatars'.
The run of dates are being lined up for 2019 or the year after.
Abba Christmas tribute hit NOT READY throwing BBC show into chaos
A BBC Christmas tribute to Abba which would showcase their first new song in 36 years is in chaos because the band say the track is not ready yet
Published 18th September 2018
The show – provisionally titled Thank You For The Music – was set to be one of the BBC’s seasonal highlights.
However the biggest draw for excited fans was having the chance to see avatars of the group – nicknamed ABBAtars – performing the new song called I Still Have Faith In You. But now the project is in turmoil.
The song – along with a second called Don’t Shut Me Down – is not yet ready for broadcast.
They will not now be heard until 2019.
“It was planned for the end of this year”
“But I think we are talking about the beginning of next year now.
“I am very proud of both songs. One is like a pop song from the Seventies. The other one is kind of timeless.”
Last night the BBC confirmed: “The ABBA TV special will be broadcast in 2019.”
CHESS på svenska" at Svenska Teatern in Helsinki on september 8, 2018
"Chess in Swedish" at Svenska Teatern in Helsinki, Finland
"Every time the Swedish Theater assembles a musical by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus is a great event and Chess in Swedish is no exception... "
"The orchestra under the leadership of Chapel Champion Kristian Nyman sounds beautiful and dramatically dramatic, and the performances are excellent.,,"
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Varje gång Svenska Teatern sätter upp en musikal av Benny Andersson och Björn Ulvaeus är en stor händelse och Chess på svenska är inget undantag. Abba-duons musik har gjort Chess till en modern klassiker, och textförfattaren Tim Rice upplever den som sitt främsta verk.
Chess på svenska av Benny Andersson, Tim Rice och Björn Ulvaeus. Bearbetning: Lars Rudolfsson. Svensk text: Lars Rudolffson, Jan Mark och Björn Ulvaeus. Arrangemang: Benny Andersson och Anders Eljas. Orkestrering: Anders Eljas. Regi: Maria Sid. Kapellmästare: Kristian Nyman. Koreografi: Carl Knif. Scenografi: Erik Salvesen. Dräktdesign: Teemu Muurimäki. Ljuddesign: Andreas Lönnquist. Ljusdesign: Tom Kumlin. Videodesign: Joonas Tikkanen. Hår och mask: Pirjo Leino. I rollerna: Alexander Lycke, Maria Ylipää, Johanna Ström, Glenn Edell, Kristofer Möller, Silva Lillrank, Daniela Fogelholm m.fl. Presspremiär på Svenska Teaterns stora scen 7.9.
Orkestern under kapellmästaren Kristian Nymans ledning klingar både vackert känsligt och pampigt dramatiskt, och sångprestationerna är överlag ypperliga. Carl Knifs koreografi är imponerande och effektfull, Erik Salvesens snitsiga scenografi med en snurrande catwalk i fokus matchas förträffligt av Tom Kumlins stiliga ljussättning. Teemu Muurimäkis dräkter är för det mesta vackra fast man i bland kanske tycker han kunde ha tagit ut svängarna lite mera, och exempelvis ha haft ett mera genomgående 80-talsstuk på kläderna.
Chess utspelar sig under slutet av kalla kriget 1986. Den starka uppdelningen i öst mot väst känns förstås förlegad i dag när den västerländska civilisationens fiender mer söks i Asien och Mellanöstern, och den amerikanska och ryska presidenten verkar vara mera av samma skrot och korn än fiender och antagonister. Något som ytterligare understryks i en av Joonas Tikkanens bakgrundsvideor där man ser porträtt av turvis amerikanska, turvis ryska presidenter flimra förbi, med Trump och Putin allra sist. Men visst minns jag fortfarande de hotfulla stämningarna från 80-talet, och alla avhopp till väst både inom kulturen och inom idrotten.
Ovant på svenska
I musikaler brukar storyn ofta vara lite tunn och det gäller också Chess. Fast det är inte Tim Rices originaltexter som vi får höra i Helsingfors utan svenska översättningar gjorda av Lars Rudulfsson, som också svarat för bearbetningen, Jan Mark och Björn Ulvaeus. Och visst är översättningarna skickligt gjorda, men det känns väldigt ovant att höra alla de välkända örhängena på svenska.
Musikalen är förlagd till italienska Merano under kalla kriget. Den sovjetiske schackspelaren Anatolij Serievskij ska möta sin amerikanska rival Freddie Trumper och göra upp om världsmästartiteln i schack. Trumpers flickvän och rådgivare Florence Vaszi är dotter till en ungersk schackmästare som fängslades 1956. De råkar i ett stort gräl efter att Freddie först förolämpat Anatolij vid en presskonferens, och Florence söker tröst i hotelldiskoteket. Hon träffar Anatolij när hon är i upplösningstillstånd medan han går med planer att hoppa av och attraktionen är ett faktum. De lämnar hotellet tillsammans och beger sig till amerikanska konsulatet där han söker asyl. Försvinnandet leder till panik i Sovjet och Anatolijs rådgivare, KGB-mannen Molokov, vill få Anatolij att förlora schackmästerskapet med flit och återvända hem. Han låter kidnappa Anatolijs hustru Svetlana och hämtar henne till Merano för att utöva emotionell påtryckning på Anatolij som redan är tyngd av samvetskval, vilket visar sig vara effektivt. Han hinner ändå uppleva en stunds lycka med Florence i en vårlig karnevalyra med ett teatersällskap som framför en humoristisk version av Romeo och Julia.
Ylipää håller internationell standard
Skönsjungande huvudrollsinnehavaren Alexander Lycke (Anatolij) är visserligen rikssvensk men ändå känd för en del av den finlandssvenska teaterpubliken, han har setts i både Les Miserables (2010-11) och Jesus Christ Superstar (2014) på ÅST och i Jesus Christ Superstars konsertversion (2018). Maria Ylipää (Florence) slog igenom på finlandssvenskt håll på Svenska Teatern med Kristina från Duvemåla (2012–2013). Hon håller internationell standard och kan väl mäta sig med Elaine Page. Sångduellen med Johanna Ström (Svetlana) i Jag vet vad han vill (I know him so well) är en fin upplevelse.
Rikssvenska Glenn Edell (Freddie) är en karismatisk sångare med fin röst som också medverkat både i Les Miserables på ÅST och i Kristina från Duvemåla. Kristofer Möller (Molokov) är ju ingen sångare direkt men har pondus som politruck. Desto mer skönsjungande är Silva Lillrank (Schackdomaren) med ett förflutet i Fork (1996-2005) som bland annat setts i Såsom i himmelen och Fröken Julie (2009) på Svenska Teatern.
En stor del av ensemblen är ganska obekant eftersom den består av antingen rikssvenska eller finska artister, men man kan notera Linneah Svärd som var med i Svenska Teaterns Mamma mia (2014-2015) och Fork (2017-2018), Marika Westerling som också var med i Såsom i himmelen, och Peter Pihlström som uppträtt på Svenska Teatern både i Hype (1994-95) och A chorus line (1999). Västnylänningarna kan speciellt glädja sig åt två skådespelare som tidigare setts på Raseborgs sommarteater, nämligen Daniela Fogelholm från Zigenarlägret flyttar till himlen (1999) och Minna Kettunen-Enberg från Ringaren i Notre Dame (2008) och Trollkarlen från Oz (2011).
Musiken i huvudrollen
De flesta i ensemblen har musikal- eller operabakgrund och skådespelarmässigt är Chess mera stel, särskilt andra akten känns mera som en konsertversion med det ena örhänget efter det andra. Men vackert så, musiken är ändå i huvudrollen i Chess. Fast personligen hade jag gärna hört hela One Night in Bangkok som man ofta sammanknippar med Chess, men här har man förlagt hela handlingen till Italien och låten spelas bara upp i en snutt från diskoteket, men den hade gärna fått komma i repris i slutet i stället.
Helhetsintrycket är i alla fall imponerande och ensemblen fick stående ovationer vid premiären. En eloge till Maria Sid som med Chess ytterligare befäster sin position som musikalregissör. Hoppas vi får njuta av hennes regier också i framtiden, trots hennes nya chefsjobb på Stockholms stadsteater.
TV-ohjelmat
Ilta-Sanomat
VIIHDE
Abban Benny Andersonin murjaisema vitsi sai suomalaiset kutsuvieraat repeämään: ”Trumpista ja Putinista olisi ainesta musikaaliin”
Benny Andersen Chess-musikaalin ensi-illassa Helsingissä.
Benny Andersen Chess-musikaalin ensi-illassa Helsingissä. (KUVA: Jussi Helttunen)
Julkaistu: 7.9. 22:03
Säveltäjä Benny Andersson saapui Chess-musikaalin kutsuvierasensi-iltaan Helsinkiin ja sai tunnelman sähköistymään.
Harmaapartainen mies lähestyy Svenska Teaternia seurueensa kanssa. Abban säveltäjämestari Benny Andersson, 71, on käynyt syömässä Esplanadin Kappeli-ravintolassa ennen Chess-musikaalin perjantaista kutsuvierasensi-iltaa.
Mies pysähtyy hetkeksi haastateltavaksi ja kaivaa esiin nuuskapurkin. Ruotsalaista merkkiä, totta toki. Annos sujahtaa huulen alle.
– Ei, Björn ei ole nyt mukana, Andersson pahoittelee kysyttäessä, missä luottomies, Abban sanoittaja Björn Ulvaeus on.
Miehet on usein nähty yhdessä markkinoimassa yhteistyötään. Viimeksi heidän nähtiin yhdessä Kristiina från Duvemålan aikaan Svenska Teaternissa 2012–2013.
MAINOS (TEKSTI JATKUU ALLA)
MAINOS PÄÄTTYY
Lauantaina Suomen ensi-iltansa saava Chess kertoo tarinan kylmän sodan aikaisesta shakkiottelusta, jossa vastakkain ovat itä ja länsi, Yhdysvallat ja Neuvostoliitto. Samalla musikaaliin kytkeytyy voimakas rakkaustarina. Sanoma on selvä: ihmisyys ei tunne rajoja, eikä rakkaus kumarra ideologioita. Abban miesten Suomessa tuntemattomin musikaali on tunteiden lisäksi täynnä politiikkaa.
Musikaalin ensi-ilta oli Lontoossa 1986, joten ajat ovat ehtineet tästä jo muuttua.
Mistä tämänhetkisestä aiheesta Andersson saisi hyvän musikaalin?
– En tiedä. Tim Rice keksi aiheen Chessiin, minä Kristina från Duvemålaan. Ehkä pitäisi kysyä häneltä, hän kiertelee.
Miten olisi ilmastonmuutos? Tai joku muu tapetilla oleva poliittinen aihe? Mitä mieltä olet?
– Olisihan Trumpista ja Putinista aihetta hyvään poliittiseen musikaaliin, maestro vitsailee ja saa ympärillä olevat kutsuvieraat nauramaan.
Ruotsissa järjestetään ensi sunnuntaina parlamenttivaalit. Maahanmuuttovastaisten Ruotsidemokraattien kirittäminen gallupkyselyissä on ollut naapurimaan ykköspuheenaiheita. Ruotsidemokraattien mahdollinen "jytky" on saanut kulttuuriväen kampanjoimaan, mukaan lukien Benny Anderssonin. Hän kannattaa Ruotsin feministipuoluetta.
Mitä mieltä olet tulevista vaaleista?
– En oikein tiedä. Kyselyt ovat joka päivä erilaisia, hän sanoo lyhyesti.
Kenties on aika siirtyä juhlatunnelmaan. Sekä teatterihenkilökunta, että muut kutsuvieraat seuraavat innokkaasti Abba-legendan saapumista teatteriin. Yhteiskuvat ovat todella haluttuja. Katsojat pyytävät nimikirjoituksia käsiohjelmiin.
– Oli todella epätodellista, kun hän saapui paikalla. Liikutuin todella paljon, se oli todella hän! Olen kuunnellut Abban lauluja lapsesta asti, kertoo narikkahenkilökunnan jäsen silmin nähden liikuttuneena.
Kun Benny Andersson istuu katsomoon aitiopaikalle, moni pää kääntyy häntä katsomaan.
Heini Kilpamäki
05 09 2018 Bjorn at the MeConvention at Stockholm He talked in a discussion titled “The winner takes it all!
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From Instagram it had been announced that Björn Ulvaeus will be discussing the state of the modern, digitized music industry along with universalmusicgroup’s Top Executive Frank Briegmann
Info: The me Convention by Mercedes-Benz, in collaboration with SXSW, is a unique conference and festival event that aims to connect bright minds across all industries in order to shape the future ( source facebook page)
SATURDAY 1ST SEP, 2018 Elaine Paige recalls moving chat with ABBA star on how age impacts their music
They worked closely together on hit musical ‘Chess’ in the early 1980s, before reuniting recently at the second Mamma Mia movie premiere.
However, while they’re both still huge names in music, theatre legend Elaine Paige, 70, has admitted that ageing has not only impacted her own music and life, but that of ABBA star Benny Andersson too.
The pair became close in the ’80s when Benny and his ABBA co-star Bjorn helped pen some of the biggest hits of musical ‘Chess’, alongside Tim Rice. Elaine was one of the leading stars in the original line-up, spending lengthy periods working on the music with the legendary song-writers.
Now, speaking in an exclusive chat with Starts at 60, the star of musicals ‘Evita’ and ‘Cats’ recalled a memorable conversation she once had with Benny about getting older, and how it has affected his song-writing.
“I know having spoken to Benny about song-writing, about this very thing – because obviously he’s over 60 now – he said when he was young and starting out with ABBA he would just sit down at the piano every day and these songs would topple out without him even trying,” she said.
“Now he says he still sits down at the piano every day, but he really has to work at it.”
Elaine has felt the impact of age herself, and she added: “Everything gets harder as you get older because everything is wearing out a bit and you slow down, but it brings other things. Maturity brings good things in your life that you don’t have when you’re young. I think every decade of life brings something new and that should be embraced.”
While Elaine and Benny haven’t remained close over the years, they recently enjoyed a reunion at the Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again! premiere in London and spent the time reminiscing about the old days.
“It was so fantastic to see them,” she said. “They were both very warm towards me, we started reminiscing right of the bat.
“It was just so wonderful to see them again after all these years. We’ve made a pact that should I pop over to Sweden at all during the summer months, which I may well do, we’ve all agreed to have lunch or dinner together.
“We can sit and talk about the good old days… except their good old days are good days again!”
Elaine shot to fame right across the world after starring as Eva Peron in the first production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Evita’ in 1978. It kickstarted a huge career for her on the stage – much of which was spent working with music legend Lloyd Webber from then on.
“I met Andrew and Tim Rice before ‘Evita’ in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. I auditioned to get into the chorus and they were at the audition,” she recalled. “My memory was that they were very polite to me, very complimentary, but it wasn’t really until ‘Evita’ that I got to really know them.”
She added of Lloyd Webber: “He’s a very intelligent man, a quiet genius really. He’s a bright and intelligent man, always one step ahead of what the public are wanting. He’d come up with some brilliant ideas that everyone else would think are strange!”
Elaine is now in a happy relationship with younger partner Justin Mallinson – 23 years her junior – who she’s previously credited with ‘keeping her young’.
“I think being around young people [is great], I have some great friends who are younger, with some my own age and some older who are in their 80s who you’d never believe were in their 80s. They behave as young as I am or younger,” she said.
The star is now preparing to tour Australia in October, recreating some classic hit songs from the likes of Carole King, Paul Simon and Lennon Or McCartney – and she explained the shows will focus heavily on the song-writers behind the hits, and the stories behind their creation.
“They’re part of my early, youthful life. Lyricists and song-writers don’t get their just deserts. When people hear music, they know they like a song or whatever but they don’t really pay attention to who wrote it,” she said.
While Elaine doesn’t write her songs herself, she said she has a heavy vetting process when choosing one to perform – ensuring the lyrics mean something to her.
“Choosing songs to sing is a very personal thing,” she explained. “They have to say something for me as if I had written them myself. I want songs to be able to speak for me, and as I’m not a writer, I have to find songs that lyrically say the things that I’d want to say.”
Elaine Paige will perform a series of concerts across Australia in October. To buy tickets, visit mjrpresents.com
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..Bjorn and his new book... "Now there are a lot of signed books to buy at Slottsholmen!"
"The book YOU ARE WHO YOU MEET is sold exclusively at Slottsholmen"
