xpressen – 2000-05-24
I AM A VERY STRONG WOMAN. I also have a strong faith in God and a fantastic family. That has helped me through the difficult time, says Anni-Frid Reuss-Lyngstad. Expressen met her in Toronto where she watched the premiere of "Mamma Mia". When she saw the performance in London, Anni-Frid was invited on stage. "There was a fantastic cheer. I felt terribly appreciated," she says.
-
My faith in God has helped me
-
Anni-Frid talks about the grief for Prince Ruzzo.
-
TORONTO. The last years of the 90s were dyed in pitch black for Anni-Frid Reuss-Lyngstad.
She lost her daughter and her husband in a short time. Expressen met her last night in Toronto, and she spoke for the first time about her grief and loss.
-I have a very strong faith in God. It has helped me.
Anni-Frid Reuss-Lyngstad arrived in Canada on Sunday and is traveling back today. It was Björn Ulvaeus who, a few weeks ago, wondered if she would like to come over and watch the premiere of the Abba musical "Mamma Mia".
Why not? I thought. At the same time, it gave me the opportunity to meet my family here. My grandson Jonathan lives in the US, not too far from here. And my daughter Henriette is studying in Boston. They are both here now.
When the request came, she still hadn't seen "Mamma Mia", even though it had been in London for a year.
I haven't been that involved in the work itself. Then there are private things that have made me never get away. But last weekend she finally made it to England and saw and heard the 22 Abba songs in the musical for the first time.
Singing along with the audience
It was very refreshing. It's amazing how they got the story and how it integrates into the music in a very natural way. It was exciting to hear Abba music in that way.
The audience sang along. Me too. My son was sitting next to me and gave me an elbow on the side. He thought I should stop.
I don't sing that loud, I said. I turned to Görel (good friend Görel Hanser) and asked. Yes, you do, said Görel.
Invited on stage
Anni-Frid was also invited on stage afterwards.
I thought, “how will this go. Will the audience recognize that old lady? I look a bit different now, than with Abba. But there was a fantastic cheer. I felt terribly appreciated.
It was a kind of joy ride in this. Joy is otherwise something that Anni-Frid has been severely deprived of in recent years. In 1998, her daughter Lise-Lotte Casper was killed in a car accident in the USA. Last year, tragedy struck again. Her life partner of 15 years, her husband Ruzzo Reuss, who died of cancer on October 30. He was only 49 years old. How have you found strength to continue facing the future?
-First of all, I'm a very strong woman. I understood that. Then I have a very strong faith in God. That is probably what has helped me.
Fantastic family
I have a very strong faith in a power and an eternity, and that helps me through my day. Plus, I have a fantastic little family. We are very close to each other. We help each other. It is not just me who suffers. There are several. Both family and friends. Stepdaughters Henriette and Pauline are both studying abroad. Henriette is studying economics in Boston and Pauline is studying public art in London. They are 23 years old and live their own lives. But we meet regularly and have good contact. It helps a lot.
Thrives in Switzerland
Anni-Frid has lived in Switzerland for 18 years now. She has no plans to move home, she says. She likes it far too well there. Not least, it has been nice not to have to be recognized. That's what I least want to be. It's extremely nice to live anonymously, ordinary life in Switzerland. I haven't regretted for a moment that I moved there.
In Stockholm, it is more difficult. Even in London. But really, it doesn't matter that much anymore. With the right age, you can enjoy being recognized and get some praise for what you have done.
She says that she visits Sweden a few times a year. Then she usually tries to meet Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
We meet quite a lot. We meet quite regularly when the opportunity arises and I'm in Stockholm.
How much contact do you have with Agnetha Fältskog?
Not so much. She has a slight tendency to withdraw. But we exchange letters from time to time and
two, three times a year we talk on the phone.
•Is there any scenario you can imagine where Abba would sing together again?
It is difficult to see it, for the reason that Agnetha is not particularly willing to imagine herself in that situation. I certainly think that we could imagine doing something that all four of us thought would be fun. But that is not the case, so now you cannot write that there is a chance for a reunion. It is simply out of the question.
But could you imagine it?
Yes, but not a reunion like Abba. But a reunion to do something musical in some way. That would certainly be fun. But then there would need to be four of us.
Anni-Frid released a solo album a few years ago but has no plans to go back into the studio. She says that for her it feels like the circle is closed.
Do you sing much yourself? No, not very often. Circumstances meant that you don't feel particularly inclined to sing. But I try from time to time. The voice is there. If I ever decide, I just have to train it.
Do you have any projects going on?
No, I've got myself going. It's my biggest project right now. It may take the time it takes,
-
Expressen facts
On stage at 11 years old
Anni-Frid Lyngstad was born in Norway in 1945. Her mother died at the age of 22 and her father was a German soldier.
Her grandmother took Frida with her to Sweden where she grew up. At the age of 11, she performed for the first time in front of an audience.
When she was 18 years old, she became a wife to a bandleader and together they had two children, son Hans and daughter Lise-Lotte.
Frida won the talent show “New Faces” in 1967, was part of "Hylands Hörna" and met Benny Andersson at a nightclub in Malmo. They married in 1978 and made Abba a success worldwide.
In 1981, the marriage ended, Abba split up and Frida moved to Switzerland in 1984. There she met the
newly divorced prince Ruzzo Reuss. After two years they moved in together and in 1992 they got married. Ruzzo Reuss has twin daughters Henriette and Pauline from a previous marriage. He died on October 30 last year of cancer.
-
Grandson JONATHAN , 11 years old, likes Abba and Metallica. "He is very musical and plays drums," says grandmother Anni-Frid proudly.
-
ANNI-FRID'S HUSBAND Prince Ruzzo Reuss died of cancer in October last year. Photo: CHARLES HAMMARSTEN
https://www.reddit.com/r/ABBA/comments/1lsz7b2/my_faith_in_god_has_helped_me_expressen_20000524/
