-ABBA TODAY-

MARCH 18: JOSEFIN NILSSON'S FUNERAL

A remarkably moved Benny has commented Marie Nilsson's speech: "it was a fantastic speech, that I must say."

Marie Nilsson spoke beautifully about her sister.:

"To look at yor eyes was like looking at a mirror. When we were lonely. we were that together."

Benny is attending the funeral.

 

Helen Sjöholm has sent flower arrangement

MARCH 17: JOSEFIN NILSSON

Josefin Nilsson's funeral takes place tomorrow in Visby, Gotland, at 12:30. There will be a lot of music. Also Josefin's own voice will be heard as recordings of Benny Andersson/Marie Nilsson song INNAN LIVET ÄR FÖRBI (Before life is over) and Eric Clapton´s TEARS I HEAVEN)  will be played.  

MARCH 15: SWEDISH ADVERTISERS

Ther organization Sverigers Annonsörers (Swedish Advertisers) has an inspiration day marketing chiefs and business leaders on April 28 at grand Hotel in Stockholm. Björn will be one of the persons who speaks there.

MARCH 10: CHESS

Helsinki City Theatre's new chief Kari Arffman (from November 2016 onwards) says that his dream play to be staged is CHESS. He says that it would fit well in the present situation of the world, but thinks it may remain a dream.

MARCH 5: KRISTINA IN NORWAY

KRISTINA FRÅN DUVEMÅLA will be performed for the first time in Norway as concert version. It will include both professional and amateur artistes. Kristina is sung by Reidun Sæther. Mono Music released her live version of HE IS A MAN, HE IS A CHILD as digital single. Espen Grjotheim will sing the role of Karl Oskar, he did Sky in the Norwegian production of MAMMA MIA! Also Fina-Kajsa has been cast but her name has not been announced. Other artistes will be auditioned during April. Anders Eljas conducts Romerike Symfoniorkester  and St. Laurentiuskoret. The concerts are performed as follows:

September 9, 10 and 11 at Lillestrøm Kultursenter

September 16, 17 and 18 at Lørenskog Hus

September 23, 24 and 25 at Ullensaker Kulturhus

MARCH 5: ABBA THE MUSEUM / POP HOUSE HOTEL

ABBA THE MUSEUM and other activities at Pop House have been very popular and it has become clear that logistics in the house must be changed. During the winter the restaurang, popshop, hotel reception and bar have been completely redesigned. A glasshouse will be build in front of the original entrance of ABBA THE MUSEUM. Here and here photos of how the house will look like in May 2016, Eurovision Song Contest being first activity to use the "new" house.

 

MARCH 4: JOSEFIN NILSSON

Marie Nilsson Lind has stated via Gotland regional theatre that she is very happy for all the beautiful words that have been said about Josefin.

The family has decided that Josefin's funeral will be public, the date has not yet been decided.  A tribute concert will be arranged at the theatre before summer.

MARCH 4: CHESS

Newspapers of the Skåne region in Sweden are writing about a new version of CHESS. Benny and Björn have hired Anders Eljas to write new arrangements of CHESS for 13 musicians. Usually CHESS in performed as huge concert versions.  Now B&B wish that CHESS will be more often as theatre/stage version even in smaller theatres, not just in big places likes Cirkus in Stockholm or opera in Gothenburg.

Theatre group Underhållningspatrullen will stage the first production of the new version at Kristianstad theatre on Septenber 3 - November 20, 2017. Tickets will come on salae October 1. Underhållningspatrullen's version is based on the original script of CHESS PÅ SVENSKA, but the scenography, clothes etc will be created the way Underhållningspatrullen wants to. B&B's company only controls the quality of how the music is performed. When the main soloists have been chosen during autumn 2016, the artistes must be approved by B&B's company. Benny and Björn are not involved in the production, but Underhållningspatrullen naturally hopes that they would visit Kristianstad to have a look at rehearsals. Anders Eljas is expected to be at place during rehearsals.

MARCH 4: JOSEFIN NILSSON / SYSTRARNA SISTERS

The show has been professionally filmed last April. Later on it will be decided how the recorded material will be used. Originally the idea had been to do filming in Stockholm this year. But Gotland region theatre decided to film SYSTRARANA SISTERS already in Gotland.

Josefin and Marie had recently been working on a sequel/spin-off for the show for Christmas season.

The funeral of Josefin will be held at the main church of Visby in Gotland. It has not been announced when and  wether the funeral will be private or public.

MARCH 2: JOSEFIN NILSSON

Josefin Nilsson passed away on Monday. Björn has expressed in  Expressen his feelings about Josefin's unexpected death.

 Josefin's leg had been operated a few weeks ago and her sister Marie  had moved to Josefin's house to take care of her. On Monday morning they went for a walk with Josefin's dog. Then both women went to their own rooms to have a rest. A few minutes later Marie found Josefin dead. Ambulance crew could do nothing to help Josefin.  

JANUARY 28: MARIE AND JOSEFIN NILSSON

In a recent press intrview former Ainbusk members Josefin and Marie Nilsson told about future collobration with Benny.  The songs that Benny wrote for their show SYSTRANA SISTERS are planned to be recorded into a new album. Additional new songs will be written and recorded to complete the album.  The show is hoped to be staged at Benny's Rival Hotel sometimes during this year when Josefin's health issues  are solved. Next year the show should tour in theatres around Sweden.

JANUARY  4: GULDBAGGEN

Nominations for Swedish film award Guldbaggen were announced today. Benny is nomanated for his original music for CIRKELN. The film is also nomanated in categories mask/makeup (Jenny Fred) and best visual effects (Ixor).

JANUARY  4: KRISTINA

KRISTINA closed yesterday in Stockholm. People involved in the production have written emotional and funny comments in the social media.

Maria Ylipää's husband jokes and thanks KRISTINA FRÅN DUVEMÅLA for 300 nights as single dad. And adds that has extreme respect for her wife and is very proud of her. Maria replies that her husband is her here, without him the massive project had not been possible.

After 311 performances Robert Noack cites Prince Daniel of Sweden: My emotions are  a little all over the place.  

Oskar Nilsson says that the KRISTINA period has been the best school that he has been in.

Glenn Edell who played Pastor Jackson and was also cover for Karl Oskar has written funny summary. He has been sick only one day and has done 297 performances, of which 50 as Karl Oskar. During the years he has been married to four different Ulrikas; Birthe Wingren Kinga Szabadvary, Nina Kronlund and Kristin Lidström. And he also has married four Kristinas: Maria Ylipää, Matilda Ambre,  Josefine Isaksson and Kristin Lidström.

JANUARY  2: BJÖRN IN AFTONBLADET

Aftonbladet has a long interview with BJörn. Mot important things:

Björn says that Benny  has delivered  really good BAO songs for Börn to write lyrics. He will save some of the lyric writing to the 10 days West India trip that Björn and Lena will soon make. Björn thinks that it is perfect to sit down below a palm with wife and write lyrics.

Many BAO lyrics are very good as are Kristina ones, says Björn but can't mention anything that is clearly above anything else.

Other ABBA members have approved the MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY project. The members are mainly in email contact when discussing things concerning ABBA.

It takes about a year's run to cover the expenses of THE PARTY but the aim is that it would become permanent thing. 60% of the songs are not in the musical MM! The dialogue will be translated into English and depending where majprity of the audience in each evening is, the dialogue will be either in Swedish or English. Song lyrics are always in English.  

DECEMBER 20: GRAMMIS

KÄRLEKENS TID has been nominated for a Grammis Awars in the category Classical album of the year. The Grammis gala takes place on February 24, 2016 at Cirkus.

DECEMBER 15: LAST PERFORMANCES

MAMMA MIA! closes in Helsinki on December  31 and KRISTINA FRÅN DUVEMÅLA in Stockholm on January 3.

Lineah Svärd (Sophie in Helsinki) and Petter Snive (Styrmannen/Jesus and cover for Robert and Karl Oskar) appear in THE AMERICAN IDIOT which takes over from KRISTINA the weekend performances at Cirkus in February-April. Obviously also Maria Sid is involved in this production.

Robert Noack will be seen in April-May at Stockholm Stadsteatern's FOSTERLANDET, a collobration with Svenska Teatern in Helsinki.

Our Festival in Helsinki in March has Maria Ylipää as one of the artistes. Maria sings in Hamina Tattoo concert in August. Maria's latet film opens in February.

 

DECEMBER 10: NOACK & NILSSON

A new interview with Robert Noack and Oskar Nilsson has been published in Sweden. It has been made already before Cirkus premiere as Oskar Nilssson says that he has never met Peter Jöback and had no idea if Jöback has seen the new production of KRISTINA in Gothenburg or Helsinki. When asked how it feels to do Jöback's role Nilsson says that Jöback was very good in the role of Robert.  Oskar is doing his own thing, he is not playing Peter Jöback.

Robert Noack tells that he was lonely in Helsinki. After Kristina performance he got back to his apartment and sat there. He is happy to be back in Stockholm where he has his girlfriend and they got a baby last summer.

DECEMBER 1: MM! HELSINKI

The  Helsinki MAMMA MIA! cast has recorded a Christmas greeting video. The show closes on December 31.    

NOVEMBER 25: SYSTRARNA SISTERS DELAYED

Josefin Nilsson's problems with her hips delay the planned Stockholm premiere of their show SYSTRARANA SISTERS from New year to a later date in 2016. Several thetres are interested in staging the show and also finacing of the production is fixed. Benny wrote several songs for this comeback show of Josefin and Marie Nilsson that was played in Gotland earlier this year.

 

NOVEMBER 21: TV APPEARANCES

This morning Helen Sjöholm sang HEMMA on the breakfast show of Swedish TV4. See it here.

NOVEMBER 18: MARIA YLIPÄÄ

In a new interview Maria Ylipää tells about her life in Stockholm. As a child she visited Stockholm with family. But as grown up she had not been there that often until she began to rehearse Kritina back in 2011 at Skeppsholmen. She quickly got charmed by the Swedish capital. Maria  now lives in Södermalm in Stockholm. She describes the area as quiet but still urban. School and kindergarten are close to her home. Maria tells that is is important for her that the sea is present in Stockholm. The coastline of Södermalm offers a great jogging and cycling route. And she loves the work trip with ferry to Djurgården. Maria goes to yoga lessons at Mariatorget and she visits weekly the Finnish church in Gamla Stan as music lessons of her children are arranged there. She recommends everyone to visit that church. The Swedish way to decorate and create Christmas atmosphere is something that Maria looks forward to experience. The family will stay in Stockholm til summer 2016. Maria plans to visit Orionteatern (to see the childrens play Loranga),  Dansens Hus (House of Dance), Photography museum, Modern Museum and the Japanese spa Yasuragi in the archipelago. From  clubs of Stockholm Trädgården is one that Maria intends to visit.

NOVEMBER 16: KRISTINA

On Sunday  Josefine Isaksson and Petter Snive did the main roles at Cirkus, see photo below. Recently in a press interview Isaksson told how a understudys day routine goes. At lunch time she gets to know if he will play Kristina. At 16:30 she arrives to Cirkus, at 16:45 makeup artistes start they job with her, 17:30 voice rehearsals, 18:00 microphone and sound testing on stage, 18:40 she puts on the stage clothes, 18:55 check up of the make-up and 19:00 the curtain raises.

 

NOVEMBER 10: KÖTTBERGER CHECKAR UT

Legendary newscast host Claes Elfsberg (67) retires from Swedish TV. He closes his career with interview series Köttberget checkar ut where he meets famous people born in the 40's. Benny is one of the guests, on the third part on November 29.

NOVEMBER 10: KRISTIN CONCERT IN MALMÖ

The 20th anniversary concerts of KRISTINA in Malmö take place the coming weekend. Friday and Saturday afternoon concerts at Malmö Live are sold out. For the evening concert on Saturday there are some tickets left. 

Cast:

Sanna Nielsen Kristina
Philip Jalmelid Karl-Oskar
Sonny Enell Robert
Åsa Fång Ulrika
Marianne Mörck Fina-Kajsa

 

NOVEMBER 10: WINGREN & NILSSON

Birthe Wingren and Oskar Nilsson guested today Swedish Radio's lunchtime show. Te interview includes short clips of GULDET BLEV TILL SAND and ALDRIG recorded at KRISTINA premiere.

There are of course many things that appear in many interviews. New thing is that they are asked about funny things that happen on stage and funny thing that they do for each other.  Birthe Wingren tells that recently during PRÄRIENS DROTTNING when she opened the present that Mr Abbott gives Ulrika, there was a sausage inside. During the dramatic scene when Robert is singing GULDET BLEV TILL SAND, children can do almost whatsoever, yawn, throw sand. It depends on how tired Oskar is how well he keep the mask when seeing children doing funny things. Birthe and Oskar say that they are about equally good in keeping the mask when something funny happens during performance. They do not want to unveil who in the ensemble has it is hardest not to fall into laughter during unexpected comical situations.

NOVEMBER 8: 1000tTH KRISTINA

The 100th performance was a great success. Robert Noack and Oskar Nilsson were on stage with understudies Kristin Lidström (kristina) and Pernilla Karlsson (Ulrika).

NOVEMBER 7: SWEDISH TV CULTURE NEWS

Swedish TV has feature on KRISTINA 20 years ago and now. Includes interview with Lars Rudolfsson and previously unseen short clips of the performance. 

NOVEMBER 6: 1000 X KRISTINA

On November 7 is the 1000th performance of KRISTINA FRÅN DUVEMÅLA 37 performances left until the musicals closes on Januar 3. Still tickets left at Ticnet.

OCTOBER 29: MORAEUS MED MERA 

Moraeus med mera with Benny, Maria Ylipää and Oskar Nilsson on Swedish TV1 on November 21 at 8pm Swedish  time!

OCTOBER 26: KRISTINA

Maria Ylipää returned on stage on Sunday after being away quite a lot lately.  There was an Octoberfest for the production company during the weekend.

     

OCTOBER 14: KRISTINA

Looks like it is piece of luck if you wish to see the main couple of KRISTINA performed by Ylipää and Noack. As this week's performances begin today, Isaksson and Edell are seen in the main roles.

OCTOBER 12: VIDEO FROM TODAY

Here, you can watch the video of Sweden together.  Benny is seen sitting on the front row. However Marias performance has been cut, she or Maria Ylitalo as hostess calls her, is only thanked for singing.

OCTOBER 12: BENNY AS PRIME MINISTER'S GUEST UPDATED TWICE

Maria Ylipää performed HEMMA for Royal couple and prime minister and other guests in the beginning of Sweden together!

OCTOBER 12: BENNY AS PRIME MINISTER'S GUEST

Sweden's prime minister Stefan Löfven (wso also went to listen the release concert of KÄRLEKENS TID) arranged today a meeting called "Sweden together". Invited were people who are expected to able to contribute something to help refugees to establish a life in Sweden.  The King and Queen were there and representives from Swedish towns/cities, trade unions, companies etc.  Also Benny was among the invited guests.

OCTOBER 11: KRISTINA

During the weekend Ylipää and Noack were not on stage. Kristin Lindström and Petter Snive played the main couple on Saturday! Snive does K O on Sunday aswell and Josefine Isaksson plays Kristina.

OCTOBER 10: MM! HELSINKI

On Thursday MAMMA MIA! made all time record  in the number of performances for a production at Svenska Teatern. It was 215th performance. KRISTINA is number 5 with 190 performances.

OCTOBER 9: KRISTINA

Covers have been doing Kristina and Karl Oskar quite often. Here a  photo of Josefine Isaksson and Glenn Edell from Friday, he was on stage also on Thursday.  Then a shot from October 1 when Isaksson had Petter Snive on her side as Karl Oskar.

        

OCTOBER 8: KRISTINA

Blixten & Co has announced today that 70.000 tickets have been sold to the present run of KRISTINA at Cirkus but there are still tickets left to the remaining 60 performances. After January 3 one does not know where and if KRISTINA will be staged for the next time. Benny says in the press release that this is likely the last time that he, Björn and Lars stage KRISTINA together.

OCTOBER 8: KRISTINA 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Aftonbladet asked yesterday how high B&B rank KRISTINA among all the things that they have done. Benny said it is impossible to compare, that ABBA is hard to beat. But KRISTINA is the best, then ABBA.

Benny said that it was fun to meet all the KRISTINA people again and to see the performance and that Maria was as good as she always is. B&B indeed will not stage KRISTINA again, but if other people, like Lars Rudolfsson, want to do it, is OK with them.

When asked about another musical, Benny commented that one desire to develope. It does not need to be a very big thing. Also Björn says that he feels desire to do another one, making HJÄLP SÖKES has been a very nice.

Aftonbladet's reporter talks about all the anniversaries, Waterloo 40, CHESS 30, KRISTINA 20. Björn says he does not care so much for jubileums, but reminds that in juni it is 50 years of the day when Benny and he met for the first time.

OCTOBER 8: KRISTINA 20TH ANNIVERSARY

The original cast of KRISTINA attended the performance yesterday and posed together with the present cast. Aftonbladet has great video. and photo gallery. Björn says it feels sad that soon the KRISTINA time is over, B&B will not stage the musical again by themselves.  

Helen Sjöholm has brought yesterday candy and a handwritten message for the KRISTINA cast and crew:

For 20 years ago it was an exciting and big day (for me). Today I have water resistant mascara  and wonderful feeling about to see and hear you tonight. Hurrah, hurrah and warm greetings to all of you on, below, over and side of the stage.!!

Peter Jöback has attended the KRISTINA performance yesterday.

OCTOBER 7: KRISTINA 20TH ANNIVERSARY

KRISTINA FRÅN DUVEMÅLA premiere took place October 7, 1995 at Malmö Musikteater. Tonigh the 20th anniversary performance is the 977th time that KRISTINA is played!

 

OCTOBER 3: BENNY & FRIDA

Benny and Frida Hyvönen performed together at Culture House in Stockholm yesterday. It was one part of the two-days Climate House event.

  

OCTOBER 1: LARS LERIN

Lars Lerin is releasing his third audio book, AXELS TID, and it again has Benny playing piano, You can hear part of the music during this radio interview.

OCTOBER 1: KRISTINA

Sweden's previous prime minister aFredrik Reinfeldt and his family has attended KRISTINA yesterday. His son comments in the net that not quite as good as original production but still wonderful. And the performance of the role of Kristina actor made the longing for Helen Sjöholm quite small.

OCTOBER 1: KRISTINA

Look like that in Stockholm second understudies are sometimes given chances to do the major roles instead of first understudies. For ex. tonight Petter Snive plays Karl Oskar instead of first understudy Glenn Edell. 

OCTOBER 1: BENNY AT GLOBE ARENA ON TUESDAY

SEPTEMBER 29:  HELA SVERIGE SKRAMLAR (UPDATED)

KRISTINA ensemble (with some of the Gustaf Sjökvist's Chamber Choir members) appear around 19:40 Swedish time in the charity concert at the Globe Arena. The song will be VAR HÖR VI HEMMA. 

SEPTEMBER 26: KÄRLEKEN TID REVIEW / HELSINGBORG DAGBLADET

Alexander Agrell's review is extremely praising. The album is brilliant without added effects. After some listenings Agrell has noticed that some songs shine even stronger when they are sung by a choir than when they performed by charimatic solo singer.   

SEPTEMBER 25: BIOGRAPHIES

Newspaper  Skånska Dagbladet has asked at Gothenburg Book Fair from book publihers whose biographies they would like to bring out. Many of them would like Benny and Björn to tell their life tories. But the two Bs refuse.

 

SEPTEMBER 25:  VI INTERVIEW WITH BJÖRN

Björn tells in the interview that for a long time Doctor Zhivago was considered as his and Benny's econd musical. But they decided to search among Nordic authors books.

When they ended up with Utvandrarna, they first tried together to reduce the story into handable size. They agreed about scenes without which they couldn't be and put them on the wall. Soon the wall was full of slices of paper. B&B realized that they need a dramatist and the hired Carl-Johan Seth, but they weren't satisfield with his work.

Three year later the work went over to Lars Rudolfsson and Jan Mark. Benny and Björn played for Lars  what they had written and he liked what he heard. Lars was able to add what was missing and after that it was easy to continue writing.

Lars Rudolfsson wanted the musical to be it is own work It is impossible to have everything from the book, but the musical.

B&B and Lars all agreed that the focus would be moved from Karl Oskar to Kristina. Björn tell that they maybe saw a stronger and more exciting woman than Jan Troell did in his films. There was no question about it, they wanted to tell Kristina's story. Björn adds that one should not forget that he and Benny had written for women for a long time.

Björn made several trips to real Duvemåla to reach the feel of the hopeless area with stones, In the song DUVEMÅLA HAGE Kristina sings about the different Place that Karl Oskar goes through and passes by on the way to Kristina. Björn has taken the freedom to put them in different order than they are in reality.   

When the rehearsal in Malmö started three month before premiere, half of the lyrics were till unwritten. They jey scene and song DU MÅSTE FINNAS didn't exit three weeks before premiere. But then it suddenly came just like that.

Björn had been writing for two decades pop songs in English. Changing language into Swedish was no problem, it  was more of a relief. Björn was no longer tied with schlager language, he could express himself the way he wants. He likes both languages but the feel for nuances one has only in mother's tongue.

SEPTEMBER 25: SWEDISH CHART

KÄRLEKENS TID enters number 9 at Swedish album chart. Incredible achviement for a choir album!

SEPTEMBER 25: AFTONBLADET'S CHRONICLE

Aftonbladet's Jens Peterson has written an interesting article about how great stage musicals seldom become great films. And same when films are developed into stage versions.

Peterson regards KRISTINA as the best musical ever, MAMMA MIA! 7th best and he also likes CHESS. He thinks that it would be hard to make a film of KRISTINA.  Partly because the story is already told in the film of Jan Troell and partly because the performance impresses with scenic telling. To build a boat of props works well at theatre as does a field from which the seed raises up majestically. Petersen suggests people to go to Cirkus and to see the full points musical there.

 

SEPTEMBER 25: VI

The October issue of Swedish magazine Vi includes an interview with Björn who tells about the work to adapt 2000 pages of the Utvandrarna books into a musical.

SEPTEMBER 25: MOST POWERFUL CULTURE PERSONS

Fokus magazine has collected Top 75 list of most powerful persons of Swedish culture life. Number 1 is managing director of Swedish TV. Benny is number 9.   

SEPTEMBER 24: GUSTAF SJÖKVISTS KAMMARKÖR

The choir has published a great photo gallery from the Sunday concerts. There's also a photo of Sweden's prime minister Stefan Löfven who attended one of the concerts.

SEPTEMBER 24: MORAEUS MED MERA

Now SVT has also published artistes of the second part of Kalle's show. It does not include the KRISTINA performances.

SEPTEMBER 23: MORAEUS MED MERA

SVT has announced that first Moraeus med mera programme will be screened on October 17.  They did not yet announce when the episode with Benny, Maria Ylipää and Oskar Nilsson will be screened. 

SEPTEMBER 23: CHARITY GALA FOR REFUGEES

”Hela Sverige skramlar – en konsert till förmån för människor på flykt” is name of the charity gala for refugees on September 29 at Globe Arena in Stockholm. The concert will be broadvast live through all main TV channels and newspapers' websites. Among the artistes to perform is the KRISTINA ensemble.

SEPTEMBER 22: PRIZE FOR BENNY

Last Saturday Benny, Lukas Moodysson and Roger Wilson received in Stockholm the prize A-Stämpel.The prize is given to persons who have contributed in making women more important role in films.

SEPTEMBER 22: ÅSA BERGH

Åsa Bergh, Ulrika in the first production of KRISTINA, is touring in Sweden. Public has been impressed when she has performed LÖSS doing alone three different roles (Ulrika, Fina-Kajsa, Kristina). Also HEMMA and ANTHEM are included in the concert. In an interview Bergh tells that she attended the Gothenburg premiere of KRISTINA last year and went even backstage.

SEPTEMBER 20: KÄRLEKEN TID CONCERT LEAFLET

SEPTEMBER 20: NEW BENNY INTERVIEW

Benny has given a new interesting interview:

When speaking about the new album with Gustaf Sjökvist's chamber choir, Benny tells that human voice i the best instrument. If one listen to ABBA, there' a lot of choirs. Sjökvist's choir is extremely good, they have been singing together for years with the best choir leader in the world. The choir is almost like a person, says Benny. He would have liked to write something new for the album, but was too busy with CIRKELN.

120.000 person aw the CIRKELN film. Says Benny:

-The film became good. We are all a little disappointed that there were not more people coming to see in the cinema. It was absolutely worth of the work. Now it costs us money instead of giving back (the expenses). That one has to take as what one must pay for a lesson. The work was fantastically fun.

 

Benny recently got a photo from the border of Serbia and Hungary. It look exactly like a scene from Duvemåla. Benny and Björn have both given contributions for refugees, but Benny lets someone else to tell what and how.

Benny tells that there will propably be no further CIRKELN films. But they are discussing with an English Company to make an Englih language remake of CIRKELN and films of also the other two books. CIRKELN is the first failure for Benny for a long time. He regards it good to have some changing in the career. The film is commercially a disappointment, but not artistically, they will continue producing films.

During autumn and spring BAO will be in the recording studio and the record will come out in May. All the music is completed, but Benny ha not yet send the anything for Björn to write the lyrics for. A tour with BAO follows in July.

About MM! THE MOVIE follow up we get to hear that it i being discussed and they communicate with Judy Craymer. Catherine Johnson has written a script but it is being reworked. A suggested director understood nothing. The project goes on very slowly. Benny is happy for the way the MM! film became. He personally is not interested in a sequel but understands why Universal is. 

MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY has no involvement from Benny. He will though go and have a look at it. He may be able to contribute something without being really involved. They need not to listen to Benny, but maybe they will if he has opinions. Benny doe not really know what they are doing at Tyrol, but it may become something nice, he hopes that for Björn.

MAMMA MIA! ha now been performed 200 times at Svenska Teatern.

SEPTEMBER 18: KRISTINA REVIEW / ARBETET

Arbetet's Jonna Sima thinks the ensemble is skillfull and competent as singers, but not that much as actors. Birthe Wingren is best in her opinion.

SEPTEMBER 18: KRISTINA REVIEW / TEATERSTOCKHOLM.SE

Thomas Olofsson from TeaterStockholm writes that usually they do not give points in their reviews, but with KRISTINA they make an exception and give 5 of 5 points. All the four main actors get brillinat reviews.  The negative thing is that there's texting machine above stage, Olofsson ask do they mean that the audience would not understand Finnish Swedish.  

SEPTEMBER 17: KRISTINA

The regular performances of KRISTINA at Cirkus began yesterday. Already today understudies are doing two major roles: Petter Snive who plays normally  Jesus and Styrmannen is this evening Robert and Kristina is played by Kristin Lindström, who usually does the role of Elin, daughter of Ulrika.

 

SEPTEMBER 16: KÄRLEKENS TID REVIEW / DAGENS NYHETER

Martin Nyström finds VAR HÖR VI HEMMA as bext track and gives 4 of 5 points and praises the talent of the choir.

SEPTEMBER 16: HELLENIUS HÖRNA

Björn will ge one of the guest during the autumn season of Swedish TV4's talk show Hellenius hörna.

SEPTEMBER 16: BENNY & FRIDA LIVE

Climate meeting of United Nations takes place this autumn in Paris. Due to this, Kulturhuset (Culture House) in Stockholm will be transferred as a Klimathus (Climate house) in October. One of the many events is a musical collobration between Benny Andersson and Frida Hyvönen on October 2 at 16:15-17.

 

SEPTEMBER 15: KRISTINA REVIEWS AND ARTICLES

Svensk Damtidning has now a photo gallery.

At least Svensk Damtidning and Hänt Extra have been at KRISTINA premiere, so articles can be expected in printed magazines.

Camilla Källers's photo gallery

Uppsala Nya Tidning's review is very positive. Björn G. Stenberg is impressed that so many great new actors have been found to to the iconic roles. He writes that Maria Ylipää and Oskar Nilsson simply are their role figures and nothing more can be wished. Robert Noack is just like Kar Oskar is supposed to be and so is Birthe Wingren. 

Kulturbloggen's RosemariSödergren writes that repremiere of Kristina is strong, facinating, impressing and seldom four hours have gone so quickly.

SEPTEMBER 13: KRISTINA PREMIERE

KRISTINA premiere was attended By Peter Jöback, Anders Ekborg, Anders Glenmark, Kristina Lugn, Marie-Louise Ekman, Gunilla Backman, Nanne and Peter Grönwall. 

 

SEPTEMBER 11: HOTEL RIVAL

Benny's Hotel Rival has renovated completely it's conference rooms. Here photos of press lauch:

  

 

SEPTEMBER 10: EXTRA KÄRKEKENS TID CONCERT

Extra concert by Gustaf Sjökvists Kammarkör and Benny has been added to 15:00 on September 20. The other concert starts at 19:00

SEPTEMBER 7: KRISTINA PREVIEWS

Tonight the first KRISTINA preview will be done at Cirkus. On Wednesday the one for Red Cross. 

SEPTEMBER 6: NEW BENNY PROJECT?

Swedish violin player Erika Lindgren has announced in social media that during autumn she will record with Benny Andersson. Also Sonia Sahlström will be involved.  Sahlström plays violin and nyckelharpa and she is daughter to legendary nyckelharpa player Eric Sahlström. BAO performed at jubileum of 100 years of birth of Eric Sahlström.

SEPTEMBER 5: KRISTINA STOCKHOLM CAST

Maria Ylipää: Kristina (also in Helsinki and Gothenburg)

Robert Noack: Karl Oskar  (also in Helsinki and Gothenburg)

Birthe Wingren: Ulrika  (also in Helsinki and Gothenburg)

Oskar Nilsson: Robert (also in Helsinki and Gothenburg)

Johan Hwatz: Arvid

Ingalill Wagelin: Fina-Kajsa  (also in  Gothenburg)

Ole Forsberg: Danjel  (also in Gothenburg)

Kristin Lindström: Elin  (also in Gothenburg)

Magnus Billström: Brusander (also in Gothenburg)

Glenn Edell: Pastor Jackson  (also in Helsinki and Gothenburg)

Rolf Christianson: Samuel Nöjd

Magnus Lofftson: Abbot

Andreas Konvicka: Thomassen (also in Gothenburg)

Lisa Gustafsson: Märta  (understudy Kristina in the original Stockholm production)

Steve Kratz: Nils

Pierre Tafvelin: Lönnegren

Kaj Hagstrand: Per Persson  (also in Helsinki and Gothenburg)

Peter Achrén: Doctor Farnley (was in Helsinki ensemble, husband of Maria Sid)

Nils Bergstrand: Kapten Lorenz

Petter Snive: Styrmannen and Jesus  (also in Gothenburg)

Kinga Szabadváry Inga-Lena (also in Gotenburg, in Helsinki ensemble and Ulrika understudy)

Andreas Konvicka: Aron  (Thomassen in Gothenburg)

ensemble:

Staffan Alveteg                

Aminah Al Fakir                          

Linda Bodin  (also in Helsinki) 

Margaretha Dalhamn              

Johan Hallberg   (also Helsinki)                           

Teija Hedin (also Helsinki)     

Linnéa Hyltenfeldt                    

Josefine Isaksson (also Gothenburg)                      

Pernilla Karlsson                        

Hélène Kimblad                         

Anneli Lindfors                           

Roma Loukes (also Gothenburg)

Eva-Lotta Ohlsson                     

                                                     

Dancers:       

Johanna Byström   (also Gothenburg)                   

Celia Berndtzen  (also Gothenburg)                       

Rebecka Carlsson  (also Gothenburg)                    

Linnéa Isaksson (also Gothenburg)

SEPTEMBER 5: SJÖHOLM & JÖBACK

Helen Sjöholm and Peter Jöback have visited Finland promoting their I LOVE MUSICALS concert at Hartwall Areena in Helsinki on October  24. Helen paraises Maria Ylipää and tells that the final KRISTINA performance at Svenska Teatern which she attended, was very emotional and personal experience. She had cried a lot.

Peter said that his daughter already says dad, when sees him on TV. When Helen tries to sing at home, her children say "don't sing, DON'T SING!".

SEPTEMBER 5: ANDERS HANSER

Anders Hanser will receive today Evert Taube Fond's prize "Sjösalapris" for his efforts as photographer.

SEPTEMBER 4: KRISTINA PRESS CONFERENCE

A KRISTINA press conference was held at Cirkus yesterday. Here we collect videos and news items that appear in the net.

5.) UNT has published TT's fantastic video

4.) TV4 has has published separate video of the chorus part of MIN ASTRAKAN

3.) Expressen has also a great video with interviews.

 In the article  B&B shoot down the recent days rumours of a sequel for MAMMA MIA! film. Benny says Universal wants a second film, but the film company has not approached them. If they do, it must be with a good script. Björn adds that he and Björn are the ones who decide wether there will be a second MM! film or not. Benny is not keen on a ssequel, he does not believe it could be as good as the first one, but adds that one never can say never. Björn says that if a screenplay writer and director come up with something that makes them excited, then yes.

2.) Dagens Nyheter

1.) Swedish TV4 has great news item of KRISTINA. It includes excerpts from TÄNK ATT MÄN SOM HAN KAN FINNAS and MIN ASTRAKAN. 

SEPTEMBER 3: TT SPEKTRA'S KRISTINA ARTICLE

Swedish news agency TT Spektra has published an article about KRISTINA. Benny, Björn and Lars all three wish that people would see the similarities between Kristina and co leaving Sweden and today's refugees.

Benny tells that when the orchestra and ensemble sang through the score for the first time at Cirkus, it felt so good that they looked at each other and asked, won't we do this again, before it is time to stop.

Many newspapers are publishing the article, for ex. Metro,

SEPTEMBER 3: MM! NEW YORK

MAMMA MIA! in New York will close on September 12, after 5.765 perfromances. Over 7 million people have seen the show in New York. As KRISTINA opens the samew day in Stockholm, B&B will not attend the final Broadway performance of MM!

SEPTEMBER 2: KRISTINA

Swedish TV's Stockholm News has fantastic news video from Cirkus. Lots of backstage material (without B&B). Among others they interview Lisa Gustafsson, who was understudy for Helen Sjöholm in the previous Cirkus production. Now she plays mother of Karl Oskar. Gustafsson tells that it was not easy when she played Kristina, audience was disappointed when  they did not get so see Sjöholm.

AUGUST 29: MM! HELSINKI

Svenska Teatern's MAMMA MIA! has now been seen by 100.000 persons. On Friday Mr Matti Nuutinen and his wife were presented with flowers and champagne. The couple's first date took place right at Svenska Teatern in June  1962, when they went to see WEST SIDE STORY.

AUGUST 28: GO'KVÄLL

    

Maria Ylipää, Oskar Nilsson and Birthe Wingren will be on stage at Swedish TV's Go'kväll show tonight, starting 18:45 Swedish time. The show is sent from Umeå. Oskar will sing GULDET BLEV TILL SAND, it remains to be seen will ladies do their duet ETT HERRANS UNDERVERK or will they sing solo songs.

AUGUST 28: KRISTINA CONCERTS

20th anniversary concerts of KRISTINA will be performed at Malmö Live in November. Involved will be, among others:

Sanna Nielsen Kristina

Philip Jalmelid Karl Oskar

Åsa Fång  Ulrika

Sonny Edell  Robert

Marianne Mörck  Fina-Kajsa

Anders Eljas  Conductor

 

AUGUST 25: MARIA & HELEN UPDATED

Swedish TV has published more details. The two Kristinas' interview starts 8:50 and continues after news at 9:15 - 9:27

Maria Ylipää and Helen Sjöholm have given an interview together for Swedish TV's breakfast show Gomorron Sverige. Screening tomorrow at 8:45 am.

AUGUST 11: ALLSÅNG PÅ SKANSEN

 Expressen's photogallery that is updated all the time.

Finnish TV has interviewed Maria Ylipää and we see and hear her and Robert and rehearsing some songs.     

AUGUST 11: ALLSÅNG PÅ SKANSEN

Here a gallery of preparatios for tonight's show. It is being updated, includes already many photos of Maria Ylipää and Robert Noack.

AUGUST 11: ALLSÅNG PÅ SKANSEN

Benny will be on stage tonight with the KRISTINA cast.

AUGUST 10: ALLSÅNG

Swedish TV has published a video from Berwaldhallen, including Benny briefly playing piano. Also a photo slideshow with many photos of Ylipää and Noack.

AUGUST 10: ALLSÅNG

KRISTINA ensemble has been rehearsing today at Berwaldhallen with Swedish Radio Symphony Orchesta. Tomorrow they performa at Allsång på Skansen, final show of this summer.

Here photo of Robert Noack relaxing outside Cirkus  during a break last week.

AUGUST 6: MARIA YLIPÄÄ

Maria has been in Finland couple of days to promote her new film OLLAAN VAPAITA.  Of course KRISTINA has appeared in all of her countless interviews. Maria tells about a performance in Gothenburg, during MIN ASTRAKAN, she noticed that the front rows were full of today's immigrants. It was hard for her to hold back tears when she thought about what are their stories and what made them to leave home country and come to Sweden.

 

AUGUST 3: SERGELS TORG CANCELLED

Performance by KRISTINA cast at Sergels Torg next week has been cancelled due to lack of time. Allsång på Skansen will be done as planned.

AUGUST 2: MM! HELSINKI

The cast has returnrd from summer Holiday and on Monday start rehearsals for repremiere on Friday, August 14.

JULY 27: KRISTINA

Rehearsals at Cirkus start today. Last week on Finnish radio Maria Ylipää told that she will give a night concert (23:00) in Turku, Finland on August 13. That is the same day when KRISTINA ensemble performs at Sergels Torg in Stockholm at midday. She will also do promotion and attend the premiere of her new film in Helsinki in the middle of August. Maria said that she will stay in Stockholm til summer 2016, but did not mention wether there's a decision that Kristina will continue during spring 2016 at Cirkus. 

JULY 20: KRISTINA

KRISTINA ensemble will perform some of the best known songs at Porten of Sergel's Torget in Stockholm on August 13, at 12-13:30. Also Lars Rudolfsson will attend

JULY 20: SYSTRARNA SISTERS

Marie and Josefin Nilsson's show will be performed in Stockholm early 2016. A contract is being written with a production company.

 

JUNE 28: B&B AND OSKAR NILSSON ON TV TODAY

Benny and Björn appeared this morning at Nyhetsmorgon Morning show of TV4.  They had been interviewed at Mono Music.

Oskar Nilsson was in the studio and sang GULDET BLEV TILL SAND singback using the backing track of the 90's single version of the song.

 

              

   

           

MAY 7: ORIONTEATERN

"A Theatre for All Senses", a book about Orionteatern by Karin Helander (text) and Martin Skoog (photos ) has just been released. The book tells how a theatre project get's it start and how it developes on the way to the premiere in the special enviroment as Orionteatern is.  HJÄLP SÖKES is the project that stands in center of the book.

APRIL 28: CIRKELN CIRKELN

CIRKELN was seen 38.399 persons during March and brought in 4,39 million Crowns. Alltogether in February and March  CIRKELN's number of audience was 113.646 and it grossed 12,95 million Crowns. Production budget includin 9 millions from Swedish Film Institute was ca. 40 millions.

APRIL 25: BENNY VISITS  CHESS IN CONCERT

     

 

APRIL 24: BJÖRN IN EXPRESSEN

At the MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY press conference, Expresen has made an interview with Björn for his 70th birthday.

Björn, who celebrated in an secret town in Italy, says that death approaches, it is just so. Despite his age, Björn still works with full speed. He likes to be fully involved in his projects, from idea until it is completed and ready, not just delivering  the artistic content. Expressen asks does Björn have need to control everything. Björn denies, if he has a vision and wants to reach it, he must be involved, that is the challenge for Björn.

Swedish artiste Anton Edwall recently admitted using drugs and said that in the music branch drugs are daily things. Expressens asks Björn, who has spent almost his whole life in the music business, is it so. Björn says yes, all the time that he has been involved in music branch, it has been permissive towards drugs. But as ABBA consited of two couples with families, they were not approached By drugdealers. As Björn remembers, they were never offered drugs.  Expressens's reported does not want to believe this. Björn says it sounds unbelievable as drugs were very common in music business in the 70's. But as two copules they were not interesting, It would heve ben different if they had been a boy band.

When asked how it is different to become 70 than 40, Björn says that one no longer doesn't pay so much attention to what people think of you One dares to say things as they are and can better live with the tryth. Othwerwise there's not many things that are better.

The approaching end of life means that one can't wait too long for things. If he want to create MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY, he must do it right  now.

APRIL 21: KRISTINA CONCERTS IN MALMÖ

Malmö Symphony Orchestra celebrates the 20th anniversary of KRISTINA with concert version of the musical on November 13, 14 and 15. Anders Eljas conducts and soloists include Sanna Nielsen, Åsa Fång and Philip Jalmelid.. Marianne Mörck will tells the story between songs and read excepts from Vilhelm Moberg's novels.

APRIL 21: KRISTINA IN STOCKHOLM

Ca. 900 persons were interested in roles in the Stockholm production of KRISTINA. Apart from the four principals, some ensemble members from Gothenburg  will move to Stockholm. But there will be many new faces aswell.

Tickets can be booked here.

APRIL 20: BJÖRN AT HUMANISTS  CHARITY GALA TONIGHT

    

APRIL 18: BJÖRN AT GAMLEBY FILM FESTIVAL

Björn opened the filmfestival in little Gamleby in Västervik, by pressing the button that is seen in the photo.

     

APRIL 17: CIRKELN DVD

CDON and some other stores announce that CIRCELN DVD and BluRay would be released already in early July. No information yet about possible extra material.

 

 

MARCH 27: MM! HELSINKI

Now there's a month break in the performances of MAMMA MIA! at Svenska Teatern. Some cast members visited ABBA THE MUSEUM this week: Mia Hafren (Donna/Frida), Maria Sid (Rita/Agnetha), Lineah Svärd (Sofie/Björn)

MARCH 27: HJÆLP SØGES

Here a large photo gallery with photos of rehearsals and many, many photos of Benny's visit last week.

Swedish residence in Copenhagen had presentation of  HJÆLP SØGES on Wednesday. Lars Rudolfsson anf Kristina Lugn told about the story, conductor Johan Bergman about the music. Sara Viktoria and Jesper Anholt performed two songs from the musical. B&B did not attend.  

MARCH 24: GAMLEBY FILM FESTIVAL

Björn will open the Gamleby Film Festival on April 17.

MARCH 24: BENNY ABOUT CIRKELN MUSIC

Benny tells in Swedish press about the music for CIRKELN. When director Levan Akin came for the first time, Benny said that  they will listen one of his old songs as inspiration. Arkin asked "is it SKALLGÅNG?". It was and Benny saw that they had similar view about the musica and a piece of the song is also used in CIRKELN.

About his way to score films, Benny tells that he tries to see what the pictures tell. In case of CIRKELN, he has read the book onwards and backwards and has strong knowledge what happens in it.

Benny phoned Kate Bush's manager to get permission to use RUNNING UP THAT HILL.  At first Bush's manger even did not want to disturb her as Bush was so busy.  Benny insisted and said that the song will fit perfectly and if Bush one day needs a pianist, she will get him free. In the end she agreed.

Originally Benny did not want to write the music of CIRKELN ,  he asked Karin Dreijer Andersson to score the film, but she did not have time.

MARCH 24: SUCCESS FOR BENNY'S HORSE

Inaya, one of horses owned by Benny's Chess Racing AB won two prizes at Swedish Gallop Gala yesterday.

MARCH 21: KRISTINA STOCKHOLM
Johan Hwatz has been cast as Arvid in Stockholm production of KRISTINA.

 

MARCH 18: HJÆLP SØGES

Benny has visited the rehearsals in Copenhagen. Press articles: Extra Bladet, BT (with video),.

   

MARCH 16: NOBEL CENTER

A new Nobel Center will be built in Stockholm. Some important names have been interviewed to tell their view about the center. Among others Björn Ulvaeus (the video has English subtitles)

MARCH 16: CIRKELN

CIRKELN dropped out of Top 10 in Sweden the past weekend.

MARCH 16: MM! HELSINKI

Markku Haussila has left the role of Chili (Pepper) and understudies do the role until new actor is found via auditions.

MARCH 9: CIRKELN

CIRKELN was number 2 during Monday-Thursday last week. During the weekend CIRKELN went down to position 8. 

         

FEBRUARY 21: SYSTRARNA SISTERS

Hela Gotland has nice photo gallery of Benny in Gotland yesterday.  Before the premiere started, Benny had time to listen how Josefin and Marie planned to do the songs that he wrote for SYSTRARANA SISTERS. Benny  gave some advices and made some corrections. Benny's presence on stage during the final rehearsal spread harmony and calmness to the ensemble.

 In pre-interviews both Nilsson sisters have told that Benny has been a big support for them all trough the years, even the hard ones when they stayed out of limelights. Josefin described Benny as some sort of father figure.

FEBRUARY 21: BENNY AT SYSTRARNA SISTERS PREMIERE

FEBRUARY 20: SYSTRARNA SISTERS

Josefin Nilsson and Marie Nilsson's comeback show SYSTRARNA SISTERS opens today in GOtland. Four of the songs are written By Benny.

 

FEBRUARY 18: BENNY AND LUDVIG INTERVIEW FOR SF BIO

In an interview for cinema chain SF Bio Benny tells that doing new things, in this case a film, gives energy and extends one's life. Ludvig explains that mainly his work on CIRKELN has been sitting around a table (with Benny, director and script writer) and speak about the project.

Before the work began, Benny read books about film making. There are two things that stand in all books: don't startfilming before you feel the script is good and casting is done. That's how Benny also did. 

Visiting the set was not really Benny's thing. He felt he was in the way.    

  

FEBRUARY 18: CIRKEN REVIEW/ SVENSKA DAGBLADET

Tove Bengtssson writes a long, very positive review (4 of 6 points)  and hopes that the two other novels will be as magically well made as the first one.

FEBRUARY 18: CIRKEN REVIEW/ KOMMUNALARBETAREN

Full 5 points for CIRKELN.

FEBRUARY 18: CIRKEN REVIEW / UPPSALA NYA TIDNING

Also UNT's critic Karoline Bergström that there would have use to "kill your darlings", the film is too long. But she wants a sequel - soon. Points 4 of 5.

FEBRUARY 17: CIRKELN REVIEW / SYDSVENSKAN

3 of 5 points from Annika Gustafsson. She thinks that film makers have succeed to find perfect actors for the different roles. The film could have more speed and more associative cut.

FEBRUARY 17: CIRKELN REVIEW / GEFLE DAGBLADET

Stefan Andersson joins the line of critics who think that actors are doing impressive job. Also special effects get praising.

FEBRUARY 17: CIRKELN REVIEW / DAGENS NYHETER

Helena Lindblad finds a lot of good things in her review (4 of 5 points): actors, music, script, locations. Less good things are length, tempo and some visual effects.

FEBRUARY 17: CIRKELN PREMIERE

FEBRUARY 17: CIRKELN REVIEW / EXPRESSEN

Expressen's Maria Brander gives 4 of 5 points. She calls the opening scene masterful.  One of the strongest film for youth for ages. Brander doesn't only wait for, but requires a sequel.

FEBRUARY 17: CIRKELN PREMIERE

CIRKELN premiere guests included Björn & Lena Ulvaeus, Tommy Körberg, Peter Jöback, Kristina Lugn, Nanne & Peter Grönwall, Arja Saijonmaa, Peter Dalle

        

   

   

FEBRUARY 16: GUSTAF SJÖKVIST PASSES AWAY

Choir leader Gustaf Sjökvist has passed away on Sunday  after long term illness,  at age of 71. Sjökvist and his chamber choir have collaborated several times with Benny. Last projects were performing on CIRKELN soundtrack and choral album with Benny's music. The album is planned to be released during spring 2015. 

 

FEBRUARY 16: CIRKELN REVIEW / TT SPEKTRA

News bureau TT SPektra gives 4 0f 5 points for CIRKELN. Especially casting is praised. The film has it weaknesses, but TT hopes that there will be  sequels.

 

FEBRUARY 15: BENNY AT ORIONTEATERN

On five Saturdays in February-April, Orionteatern in Stockholm will become a club, with live music. The events are called as Orion on Fire. Trio Fire has musical guests and on March 28, Benny and Lars Rudolfsson will be on stage!

FEBRUARY 12: MORE CIRKELN

Short video interview with Benny, mainly about CIRKELN music. Beautiful melodies are heard...

FEBRUARY 11: CIRKELN IN GERMAN / INTERNATIONAL  PRESS

Tagespiegel

N-TV (video)

Berliner Kurier

Rex Features's gallery

FEBRUARY 11: CIRKELN IN SWEDISH PRESS

In the interview with news agency TT Spektra, Ludvig says that CIRKELN should have an audience of 400.000 in Sweden to cover expenses.  Everything is ready to do a second film, and the team is thinking should also the 3rd film be shot at the same time. If for some reason there would no sequels for CIRKELN, Benny intends to continue producing film.

Dagens Nyheter has a nice photo gallery. in their report. Nicholas Wennö praises actors and music, but thinks the film is a bit too long and tempo is not good all the time.

Aftonbladet writes about the chaos that Benny caused. Ludvig says that he would like to see an extended version of the film, as there is material that was cut.

FEBRUARY 1: SKAVLAN

Benny will guest Skavlan TV show on Friday. It his second visit in the show.

FEBRUARY 10: BENNY AND LUDVIG INTERVIEW IN SWEDISH QX MAGAZINE

Some excerpts from the interview to promote CIRKELN

 

What do you you say if Hollywood contacts you and want to make a CIRKELN remake?

Ludvig:

I rather think that we must tell them about us. I will actually soon make it to Los Angeles and will do something for this.

 

Benny: I

 think it will go automatically if it appears tha tpeople want to see our film. But by then I above all want it to come out as it is in the first, in Swedish language.

 

Mats Sandberg (author of the book) said that is is good that you as producers did not only come with bunch of money but were also very involved in the project?

Benny: yes, our engagement is total, right that is the thing for us.  Otherwise we could have instead bought shares of Ericsson.

 

What is it like to work together, father and son?

Benny:

Fantastic, if you ask me. It could not be better. That way we are seeing every day, and plan is indeed that Ludvig will learn everything about the company, so that he one day can take over. Everything that I have worked with trough my life, from Hep Stars to MAMMA MIA! is taken care of  here (=at Mono Music office), there are unbelievably many things. Everything that one has accomplished must be administrated and there will be a day when I am too old for that.

Ludvig:

 In addition,  we find new things together, like this film, for example. I and father think the say way about most of things, so I often even don't need to ask him. I know what he thinks when Philip Morris calls and wants to use Dancing Queen in a commercial for cigarettes..

 

 

FEBRUARY 10: HJÄLP SÖKES

Hjælp Søges, the Danish production of HJÄLP SÖKES opens April 12 at Østre Gasværk's theatre. Logo for the show has been published, see below.

 

Here an interview in Danish with the two male actors. A video from press info/rehearsals (without B&B) here.

 

 

 

 

FEBRUARY 6: CHARITY FOR CHILDREN

Humanists will arrange a charity gala for children of Syria and North Iraq at Rival hotel on April 20. Björn will be one of the persons to speak in the event.

 

FEBRUARY 6: MORE CIRKELN PROMOTION

On February 12 afternoon, Benny will record some TV show  (we don't know which one) in Stockholm and after that he is hoped to appear at Filmistitute as guest of film publicists.

FEBRUARY 5: BJÖRN AT INTIMAN

Yesterday  Björn and Lena attended the show "Morsning and goodbye" by Magnus Härenstam at Intiman theatre in Stockholm. Härenstam is the teacher in the WHEN I KISSED THE TEACHER video.

     

In the middle of January, Björn went together with Tomas Ledin to see ”A Tribute to The Last Waltz” at Södra Bar restaurant in Stockholm. It was a promotion event arranged by the city of Skellefteå.

FEBRUARY 5: QX GALA

Helsinki production of MAMMA MIA! won the award "Show/Play/Concert of the Year" at QX Gala in Helsinki. Usually the gala is arranged in Stockholm, but now for the second time in Helsinki.

FEBRUARY 5: GO' KVÄLL

On February 15, an interview with Benny is included in Swedish TV's Go' Kväll show at 5:10 pm. It will be recorded in Berlin.

JANUARY 30: MM! HELSINKI

MAMMA MIA! will be performed for the 100th time at Svenska Teatern in Helsinki.

 

Ensemble member Johan Lundberg, who also works as a model, has become frontman in promotion for Finnish men's fashion company FRENN

 

 

JANUARY 22: EXTRA KRISTINA PERFORMANCE

KRISTINA has been huge success for GöteborgsOperan. 120.000 tickets have been sold/reserved. On next Monday will be released tickets to extra  performance on Friday April 17. So altogether KRISTINA has been done 100 times at Gothenburg Opera when it closes on May 16.

 

 

JANUARY 20: CIRKELN

Cinema chain SF's club Bioklubben offers now chance to ask Benny Andersson, other crew members and the cast anything about the CIRKELN film. Bioklubben does not mention when the answers will be available.

 

 

JANUARY 19: CIRKELN

As premiere of CIRKELN is getting closer, interviews with cast members are appearing in different publications. Running time of CIRKELN is a bit over two hours.

Unfortunately there is still no decision if CIRKELN gets screened in other countries than Sweden. That applies even to neighbour countries Finland and Norway.

 

JANUARY 14: ROYAL MUSIC COLLEGE

Royal Music College of Stockholm has invited media to have a look at how the building project of new massive campus looks like at present. Decoration, installations and research is financied by donations and for this there's a advisor group which helps to collect money. Far this they have collected 58 million of the needed 114 million Crowns.  Benny belongs to the advisors group and attented the press meeting yesterday.  The building should be ready in spring 2014. Benny can think of writing music for the opening, if he is asked.

 

Here a video by SVT.

 

JANUARY 11: MAMMA MIA ! HELSINKI (PHOTO ADDED)

Maria Sid starts today doing the role of Rita at Svenska Teatern.

JANUARY 9: ARCHIVES

 

DECEMBER 4: BAKER BENNY

Benny was guest when the crispbread factory in Stora Skedvi opened today. In this video we see Benny baking, being interviewed and playing with accordion many songs  in the end, among others HAMLET III,  with two other musicians. 

 


DECEMBER 4: FROM RIVAL TO DUVEMÅLA

Benny's Rival Hotel has a special package available to KRISTINA at Cirkus next autumn.

 

 

DECEMBER 1: MORE KRISTINA MOVEMBER

 

 

DECEMBER 1: CIRKELN TRAILER

...here. With quite some music.

 

 

 

NOVEMBER 29: MOVEMBER AT GÖTEBORGSOPERAN

Maria  Ylipää & co...

 

 

 

 

NOVEMBER 29: MONO MUSIC

Mono Music has published an advert to promote BAO records as Christmas presents. 

 

 

 

NOVEMBER 24: MM! HELSINKI

Already over 100.000 tickets have been sold to MAMMA MIA! at Svenska Teatern in Helsinki. And already 75% of the spring 2015 tickets have been booked.  

 

 

 

NOVEMBER 24: BJÖRN AND HUGH JACKMAN

 

 

NOVEMBER 24: BENNY LIVE

Benny appeared yesterday in the 20th anniversary concert of Gustaf Sjökvist's Chamber Choir, at Eric Ericssonhallen.

 

 

NOVEMBER 23: PRIME MINISTER AT MM!

Finland's prime minister Alexander Stubb attended yesterday MAMMA MIA! at Svenska Teatern. Stubb's comment on MM! "Probably the best musical I have ever seen". Here photos of PM and the main cast and the actors celebrating 50th performance.

 

    

 

 

   

 

NOVEMBER 20: KRISTINA COVERS

There have already been some KRISTINA performances at GöteborgsOperan when covers have done some of the main roles. This week even both Kristina and Karl Oskar were dome by understudy in the same performance.

 

Glenn Edell and Josefine Isaksson

 

 

 

NOVEMBER 17: KRISTINA AT CIRKUS

KRISTINA will open September 12, 2015 at Cirkus in Stockholm. Tickets (til January 2, 2016) will be released November 27.  Performances are mainly Wednesday-Sunday, no performances on Mondays and Tuesdays.

 

NOVEMBER 14: KÖRBERG

Tommy Körberg's Christmas album TOMMYS JUL is available on physical form only at Coop stores in Sweden. You can listen to the album here and download the songs here and from I-Tunes.

 

Björn has written Swedish lyrics to two songs, one being  JAG GÅR DIT DU GÅR (I'll  go where you go), better known as Andrea Bocelli's "Con te partirò".

 

 

 

 

NOVEMBER 12: FRIDA & LEDIN

Tomas Ledin recorded his first songs at his home in 1964. To celebrate the 50 years of recording career, a special Tomas Ledin box will on November 26. The box included also 90-page booklet which includes unique texts and photos, for ex by Frida.

 

NOVEMBER 12: KÖRBERG

Tommy Körberg's Christmas album with Norrköpings Symphony Orchestra, TOMMYS JUL, should have been released today. It includes among others two songs with lyrics by Björn.

 

 

NOVEMBER 12:  LALEH

On November 28, in Gothenburg premieres a documentary film about Swedish songwriter/producer/singer Laleh Pourkarim. "Jag är inte beredd att dö än" (I am not yet ready to die) tells about two years in Laleh's life. Among others the film includes, as press release says "an unexpected meeting with Benny Andersson". The expression can mean a musical meeting, like playing together, or of course ordinary meeting of the two. Swedish TV3 will screen the documentary on Janury 3.

 

 

NOVEMBER 12: ALTERNATIVE ROBERT

Robert Nive has done this week the role of Robert at GöteborgsOperan.