-ABBA TODAY-
MARCH 3: CIRKELN
CIRKELN has been seen by 80.000 people during two weeks. Not the best possible start. FIFTY SHADES OF GREY is still number one in Sweden.
MARCH 3: MM! ACTORS MEET ROYALS
MAMMA MIA! in Helsinki has an international cast. Today the ones with Swedish origins were invited to the reception at Swedish embassy, with King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden attending.
MARCH 2: CIRKELN
Unfortunately, CIRKELN drops to position 5 at it's second week in theatres.
FEBRUARY 25: HJÄLP SÖKES
Here a nice picture of scenography building of HJÄLP SÖKES in Copenhagen. Looks fantastic.
FEBRUARY 24: CIRKELN NUMBER 2
CIRKELN was number 2, after FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, at Swedish movie Top 10 last week. There's not yet information how many people saw the film.
FEBRUARY 22: MM! IN POLAND
Björn attended the MAMMA MIA! premiere in Poland.
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
N-TV (video)
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.
Aftonbladet has reviewed CIRKELN and gives 4 of 5 points.
FEBRUARY 10: BENNY IN BERLIN
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
JANUARY 9: BROADWAY
MAMMA MIA! is now 8th longest running show on Broadway after surpassing BEAUTY AND THE BEAST during the holiday season.
JANUARY 8: KRISTINA CONCERT
The choir Borganäskören will arrange a KRISTINA concert at Maximteatern in Borlänge on May 16. Marcus Mozny will conduct the choir, soloists and musicians. It has not yet been announced who will do the main roles (familiar names or unknown artistes)
JANUARY 1: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Maria Ylipää at GöteborgsOperan
Mia Hafren (Donna) at Svenska Teatern
DECEMBER 29: MIXING CIRKELN
DECEMBER 27: KRISTINA
Xmas break of KRISTINA is over and today is the first show. At least Robert Noack of the lead actors is not on stage today.
DECEMBER 27: LINEAH SVÄRD AGAIN
Lineah Svärd has given an interview for Swedish radio P4 Värmland. She is asked quite many same questions as Huvudstadsbladet did in Finland. Lineah tells that she and many others were a bit scared to approach Björn Ulvaeus after premiere at Svenska Teatern. One has such a big respect for him and does not want to disturb him. But she went to Björn and he was very friendly. Lineah does not want to tell exactly what Björn said to her, wants to keep it private.
A lot of funny unplanned things happen during shows. Lineah says she has it very hard not so laugh when these happen.
Cast and crew of MM! has grown into one big family
MM! has been done 69 times out of 280. Like most people in the branch, she must all the time think about new works, go to auditions etc. But as she has such a long contract with MM!, Svärd has decided that she does not think too much about next engagements before end of 2014.
DECEMBER 27: CIRKELN
Sound mix of CIRKELN film was completed a few days before Christmas.
DECEMBER 27: LINEAH SVÄRD
Hufvudstadsbladet has interviewed Lineah Svärd, Sofie in Svenska Teatern's MAMMA MIA!
She tells that after she had done auditions for several roles in MM! she for the first time felt she could get a role. Usually it is hard to find a balance after audition; one must dare to dream to get the role one wants and at the same time one must be ready to become disappointed.
Lineah Svärd says that she likes living in Helsinki. She had made a decision that she will be open when she moves to Finland. And she got the best possible guides, colleagues who already lived in Helsinki and they showed Lineah their favourite places in Helsinki. There are also many others in the ensemble who are3 new ones in Helsinki, so they can together learn to know the town, they have played badminton, gone to movies, cooked together etc. Lineah drives a lot with bicycle in Helsinki.
During the interview (in a vcafe) a gentleman approaches. He looks delighted and surprised. He had seen MM! the previous day and praised Svärd. She of course is happy for that. Svärd is not used to getting recognized in Helsinki. She says she is propably bigger celebrity in Värmland, her home area in Sweden, than in Helsinki. Occasinally there appear people who want selfie with her, but mainly when she changes her role costume into private ones, no-one recognizes her.
The MM! daytime performances have mainly cruise touristes from Sweden as audience. It is more quiet than the Finnish audience, as Swedes don't understand all the jokes in the musical as those have been adapted for Finnish audience.
The first three months season of MM! has been so intensive that Lineah Svärd has not been able to visit Sweden at all. The Christmas break is eight days.
If a good role is offered from Svenska Teatern after MM! closes one day, Lineah can think of accepting it. But she prefers a less tight performance schedule. She now lives in theatre bubble and there's a limit to how long one can live in it.
DECEMBER 15: KRISTINA
KRISTINA s now on Christmas holiday after 30 performances at GöteborgsOperan. Maria Ylipää and her family (mother, father and brothers) are giving a charity concert on December 20 in Pirkkala, close to Maria's hometown Tampere. The raised money is used for musical studies for children who come from families who can't afford to pay for the studies.
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.
NOVEMBER 4: ALZHEIMER CHARITY PROJECT
Tomorrow in Sweden will be released the book "Innan jag glömmer bort mig själv" (Before I forget myself). It is a charity project for Alzheimer fund. For the book 60 well known Swedes, among others Björn Ulvaeus, have written their own obituary with maximum of 1000 words. Some persons have written with twinkle in the eye, some contributions are rather philosophical contemplations.
NOVEMBER 3: KRISTINA
In a KRISTINA review made during first actual performance week, it appears that Kristina's role had been done by understudy Josefine Isaksson.
NOVEMBER 2: CIRKELN TRAILER
The first trailer (there already was a teaser earlier this year) will be shown before the film " The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1" which opens November 19. Very good protion for CIRKELN.
NOVEMBER 2: KRISTINA TRAILER
GöteborgsOperan has published a trailer for their KRISTINA
OCTOBER 29: MARIE NILSSON
Former Ainbusk (Singers) member Marie Nilsson-Lind guested today Swedish Television's breakfast show. She spoke a lot about the past few years when she had serious depression. Marie tells that Benny Andersson is a fantastic friend who has supported her during the dark years. Marie tells that she and Benny collobrate by talking, by ringing to each other and she sends ideas and synopsis to Benny. Marie has not yet heard the music that Benny writes for Marie and Josefin Nilsson's new show Systrarna Siters which premieres in February. But marie Nilsson is not worried, she knows that Benny will deliver. The new show has only the two sisters and pianist on stage. But there will be nice lights and costumes aswell.
OCTOBER 29: CIRKELN MUSIC
Here you can see a short clip of recording music for CIRKELN film.
OCTOBER 28: KRISTINA REVIEW: NUMMER
Theatre magazine Nummer gives full 5 points for KRISTINA. Lis Hellström Sveningson writes thta Maria Ylipää is transparent in the title role. All the way long songs grow beautifully out from body. Inwardness also shines mutually in relation to Robert Noac's tenderly accountable Karl Oskar. Both body and soul arer used to show that life carries with power of love. Birthe Wingren's Ulrika is strong and warm person who gorws both inside and outside. Oskar Nilsson's development from enthusiatic adventurer into a depris is painfully convincing.
OCTOBER 28: MAMMA MIA! HELSINKI
Svenska Teatern starts tomorrow selling the tickets for autumn 2015 season of MM! Here you can see listing of performance days
OCTOBER 28: KRISTINA REVIEWS: SWEDISH RADIO P4
Thorvald Pellby Petterson thinks that KRISTINA at GöteborgsOperan is "fantastically good and moving". He says that Maria Ylipää delivers an unbelievably good interpretation and sings with whole register on DU MÅSTE FINNAS. With his voice and good acting, Robert Noack owns the role of Karl Oskar. Oskar Nilsson makes a good presentation in the role of Robert. According to Petterson, Birthe Wingren IS Ulrika, does fantastic work.
OCTOBER 26: KRISTINA REVIEWS: BÅRAS TIDNING
Helen Flensburg finds Birthe Wingren as the most convincing of the four main actors. She is both humorous and deep. Maria Ylipää does Kristina with clear singing voice and does clear maturing process from lovable girl into a mature morher and wife. Oskar Nilsson dconvinced GULDET BLEV TILL SAND. RObert Noack has beautiful tenor voice which he uses maximally. Sound in dialogue parts gets critics.
OCTOBER 26: KRISTINA REVIEWS: GT
Newspaper GT's Peter Vännö praises KRISTINA into heavens. He thinks that it is a relief that the four main actors are unknown for most Swedes. There are no gossip magazine fuss around them - there are just four unbelievably talented artistes who fit perfectly to the roles. Maria Ylipää´s Kristina has temper, Robert Noack copes of making the young soft Karl Oskar into the daarker adult life. Birthe Wingren is self-clear in her feminism, and Oskar Nilsson in the second act makes you almost hold your nreath. All the four have according to Vännö voices that are selfclear, full of nuances and convincing. The critic says that one sees that the four are in in their roles and the perfromance works already at premiere. In the beginning Vännö had been a bit doubtful about Maria Ylipää's accent, it was hard to hear the lyrics. But the reason was in microphone in the opening scene, writes Vännö and says that one quickly got used to Ylipää's accent, and her DU MÅSTE FINNAS was of course the top moment of the evening. The scenography is also praised. Vännö also says that one should not forget one certain bearded man, whose music, even every smaer piece, is world class. Peter Vännö end his review by congratulating Gothenburg and Sweden for getting best possible KRISTINA and the four new Finnish (of course two of the leads are Swedish) super singers give new kicking power for the musical.
OCTOBER 20: KRISTINA PHOTOS
GöteborgsOperan has published a gallery with many photos of several KRISTINA scenes.
OCTOBER 18: KRISTINA PRESS CONFERENCE
Lars Rudolsson said on Friday that making KRISTINA is not allowed to become rutine. The aim is to make it better every time. So some changes are made and new details are retouched aways, that is also with the new Gothenburg production. Though there are no major changes in the lyrics, because a lot of work with them were done in Helsinki.
Rudolfsson said that he wants to take the honour for giving KRISTINA it's theatratical form. He says it is not remarkable, but effective and poetic.
OCTOBER 17: KRISTINA PRESS CONFERENCE
GöteborgsOperan arranged today a KRISTINA press conference. It looks like they performed MIN ASTRAKAN scene for the media.
For news bureau TT Spektra Björn says that he would like to see KRISTINA staged also in other countries than Finland and Sweden. He could think Germany, Norway and Denmark as possible countries. After the concert attempts in New York and London Björn does not believe that KFD will reach these stages, it is too serious.
In GT Björn says that though it is 18 years since KRISTINA was done in Gothenburg, it feels like it was yesterday. Björn is impressed by the new main cast and ensemble. For Björn it is important that a singer remain natural himself and don't get mannerism. He tells that the last time they had to work a lot with that with Peter Jöback, to get out his naturality. Björn doe not understand that today so called boy bands' members are chosen because of hair colour and wearing style. Maria Ylipä and Robert Noack tell to GT that at present they long to get in front of an audience.
OCTOBER 16: KRISTINA
HÄR HAR DU MIG IGEN and GULDET BLEV TILL SAND were performed at KRISTINA seminarium yesterday.
Casting of ensemble and covers for the main actors in Stockholm has begun.
OCTOBER 10: MM! TICKETS
Although over 80.000 tickets have been sold to MM! in Helsinki, there still are tickets available. If you do not like to be in the city during dark evenings, a good choice it to see MM! during the day performances. There are still A-class tickets to midday shows in October, November and early December. It is also always worth asking for tickets any time. Sometimes bookings are cancelled so single tickets can very well be obtainable.
For people coming with ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki, it is possible to arrive in the morning, watch MM! midday performance and return home with fery in the evening.
OCTOBER 10: MM! TRAILER
Svenska Teatern has published a trailer of their MAMMA MIA!
OCTOBER 10: KRISTINA SEMINARIUM
On small stage of GöteborgsOperan, on October 15, at 19:00 will be arranged a discussi forum called "To leave one homeland for another". Participating are Maria Ylipää, Robert Noack, Oskar Nilsson, Lars Rudolfsson and Hans Ek. There will be some music pieces performed aswell.
OCTOBER 9: SUCCESS FOR KRISTINA
KRISTINA FRÅN DUVEMÅLA has already sold 83.000 tickets for run at GöteborgsOperan.
OCTOBER 9: MM! CLOTHES
TV channel MTV3 has been behind the scenes of MM! at Svenska Teatern. There are 150 clothe changes during a performance, the quickest change -Donna's weding dress- is 14 seconds. There are four dressers working on during the show. Most of the clothes in Helsinki came from Denmark. Some of them have been adjusted to the cast of Svenska Teatern, In additisome on clothes have arrived from the production company's storage in London.
15 persons are working wits. All clothes are washedand ironed every day. Whe none has a closer look at the clothes, one notices that some little tricks are used to make the changing easier. Instead of buckles, shoes have velcro fastening, and badges in the clothes have been replaced by poppers. To jeans have been added some flexibility to make wild dancing possible.
OCTOBER 7: FRIDA AUCTIONS JEWELLERY
On November 16, Bohlins in Stockholm has an auction where for ex Frida sells some jewellery. The white gold has five rows of Japanese saltwater pearls Between the pearls are 224 brilliants, alltogether 13,49 carats. The armband has 100 cultured pearls in fine rows and 76 brilliantsin total 4,65 carates. The price for the two items is 460.000 Crowns.
OCTOBER 7: BENNY GUESTS GUSTAF SJÖKVIST
Gustaf Sjökvists Kammarkör (chamber choir) celebrates it¨s 20 years with a concert at Eric Ericssnhallen on Skeppsholmen, Stockholm, on November 23 at 15:00. Benny Andersson will be one of the guests.
OCTOBER 2: KRISTINA REHEARSALS AT GÖTEBORGSOPERAN
OCTOBER 2: SVENSKA TEATERN'S MM! VIDEO
Svenska Teatern has published a video which has video many of the songs and footage of both premieres, celebrities arriving and being interviewed during the interval and after the show. Also Björn is interviewed.
OCTOBER 2: CIRKELN
RMV Film aims that people older than 11 years will be allowed to see CIRKELN at Swedish cinemas. But it remains to be seen what the authorities think.
SEPTEMBER 28: CIRKELN
On Monday evening Benny and the CIRKELN main production team oncw again had a loo at a cut of the film. During the next few days the cut must be completed, so that visual effects and sound can be started to be done, and Benny can start recording his music.
SEPTEMBER 28: MM ! REVIEWS
Some culture people have been critizising Svenska Teatern for producing musicals, especially foreign ones. But for ex. with KRISTINA both critics and audiences loved the musical. And even now, when more commercial MAMMA MIA! arrives to Svenska Teatern, the same happens. Audience already have shown their opinion by buying closer to 80.000 tickets in adaence. The critics are also excellent, reviewers appreciate even lighter plays when they are made carefully and performed by quality artistes. Here more reviews:
The newspaper Borgåbladet praises Lineah Svärd, who without any hint of problems moves between ranges and with her bright voice captures emotions and feelings. Mia Hafren gets praising words for her voice and nterpretation., and her presence on stage is strong.
Turun Sanomat newspaper writes that Svenska Teatern's production of MM! is heartbreakingly qenuine and warmly human. Actors get very positive reviews. Turun Sanomat thinks that the charm of the production lies partly in the fact that all singers are not perfect professional singers but very good singers.
Also Anakonda finds Hafren and Svärd brilliant and thinks that everything works in MM!
SEPTEMBER 28: MM ! REVIEWS: HELSINGIN SANOMAT
Finland's biggest and most important newspaper Helsingin Sanomat joins the paper who give wondewrful review for MM! The cast is praised, above all Lineah Svärd.
SEPTEMBER 27: MAMMA MIA REVIEWS : HBL
Hufvudstadsbladet review online would require being subscriber but the little that is available says that the reviewer was impressed by MM! and thinks that Mia Hafren is the only thinkable singer to take over from Frida.
SEPTEMBER 27: KRISTINA'S SWING AT GÖTEBORGSOPERAN
SEPTEMBER 27: CIRKELN
Benny said at Gothenburg Book Fair yesterday, that the film CIRKELN is not aimed only for young people, but also to the people of his age. Benny has written the score and says that it was a difficult task as for the first time for ages, he has not been able to write music exactly the way he wants to.
SEPTEMBER 27: MM! REVIEWS: ILTA-SANOMAT
Finland's biggest evening paper (and second biggest newspaper) Ilta-Sanomat gives full 5 points for MAMMA MIA! No weak links in the production at all, writes the paper.
SEPTEMBER 27: MM! HELSINKI ARTICLES
YLE Radio has interviewed Veera Railio (Tanja) . She says it is fun to use her school Swedish skills. He fave song in the musical is UNDER ATTACK. It is natural for Railio to sing the songs in Swedish as ABBA's roots are in Sweden. Choreographer Nicole sings during rehearsals in English and the actrors in Swedish. Then some technical people are German, so quite of mixture of langusges at Svenska Teatern at present. Also the ensemble has people from many countries, and Veera Railio finds it natural as also ABBA is an international phenomeon.
Linköping stidning has interviewed Johnny Johansson (Eddie)
SEPTEMBER 26: MM! PRESS PREMIERE
MAMMA MIA! had today it´s premiere for press and invited guests. Quite some celebrites attended aswell. Audience lived keenly with the show, giving loud applause, also spontaneousĺy during some scenes. During the extra numbers MAMMA MIA!, DANCING QUEEN and WATERLOO she audience tood, clapped hands and cheered. The cast was on top form and it will be exciting to read the reviews.
No ABBA members attended the press premire.
SEPTEMBER 26: BJÖRN WRITES FOR KÖRBERG'S CHRISTMAS ALBUM
Tommy Körbergs is making a Christmas album with Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. There will be mainly new material, and some of the songs have lyrics written by Björn Ulvaeus. Björn himself has been present during recording sessions.
SEPTEMBER 25: MM! NEWS
MAMMA MIA! opens at Svenska Teatern on Saturday. 76.000 tickets have been sold in advance, a record for the theatre. Svenska Teatern announced this morning that in October they will release tickets for autumn 2015, which means that MM! will run at least 1,5 years in Helsinki. Great! On September 29 will be released ticketx (with higher price) for New Year performance.
Restaurant Kappeli (close to the theare) which Benny mentioned as nice place during the KRISTINA process, has a special MM! menu.
SEPTEMBER 24: MM! HELSINKI PREVIEWS
There have been several previews of MM! at Svenska Teatern. The show and cast is brilliant and the response from audience both at the theatre and in the social media has been extremely positive. The first rows that were missing in KRISTINA because of large orchesta are now there, so you get REALLY close to the stage and actors, especially to Sam and Sofie on KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU (DU ÄR DU, JAG ÄR JAG) We will keep reporting...
SEPTEMBER 19: YLE
Very good promotion for Svenska Teatern: main news cast in Finland, YLE uutiset had report of MM!
SEPTEMBER 18: MATERIAL FROM SVENSKA TEATERN'S MM! PRESS INFO TODAY
SEPTEMBER 24: MM! HELSINKI PREVIEWS
There have been several previews of MM! at Svenska Teatern. The show and cast is brilliant and the response from audience both at the theatre and in the social media has been extremely positive. The first rows that were missing in KRISTINA because of large orchesta are now there, so you get REALLY close to the stage and actors, especially to Sam and Sofie on KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU (DU ÄR DU, JAG ÄR JAG) We will keep reporting...
has video with interview with Mia Hafren and clips of DANCING QUEEN, MONEY MONEY MONEY, MAMMA MIA
PTEMBER 18: FIRST MM! HELSINKI PHOTOS
Svenska Teatern has published the first photos of their MAMMA MIA! production. Today TV companies / web TV teams will be filming three secenes of MM! at Svenska Teatern, so soon the first live material will be available.
Over 75.000 tickets have been reserved/sold before premiere. Of them 1/3 to Sweden, where MM! ran in 2005.
SEPTEMBER 17: LISEBERG VIDEO
GöteborgsOperan has published an official video clip of the KRISTINA ensemble's concert at Liseberg last month. It includes short excerpts:
Josefine Isaksson (Kristina cover): HEMMA
Robert Noack: VILDGRÄS
Birthe Wingren & Maria Ylipää: ETT HERRANS UNDERVERK
Oskar Nilsson: GULDET B LEV TILL SAND
SEPTEMBER 15: BENNY WRITES MUSIC FOR COMEBACK OF AINBUSK NILSSONS
Former Ainbusk Singers members Josefin Nilsson and Marie Nilsson return on stage after a break of several years. They make the show "Systrarna Sisters" at Gotland's Länsteatern (County theatre), alltogether 26 perfromances with premiere on February 20, 2015. The production includes new music for example from Benny Andersson.
SEPTEMBER 15: KRISTINA TICKETS
Tickets to the last performances of KRISTINA at GöteborgsOperan, in April and May 2015, will be released today, at 12 Swedish time. Book here.
Official poster for KRISTINA:
SEPTEMBER 13: BENNY AT BOOK FAIR
Benny, Ludvig and writers of the CIRKELN book and director & producer of the film will attend the Gothenburg Book Fair on Friday, September 26, at 18-18:45. The seminarium is called "The Work Continues - When a book becomes a film".
Benny being in Gothenburg means that he will not attend the press premiere of MAMMA MIA! in Helsinki.
SEPTEMBER 12: MM! HELSINKI
Björn Ulvaeus himself has decided that Vasa is the Finnish town, from where Donna calls from on SUPER TROUPER at Svenska Teatern's version of MAMMA MIA!
The cast has have deep tan the next 1,5 years, so once a week the actors will be sprayed. Svenska Teatern has provided the actors black sheets and sleeping wear for home use, as the spray tends to leave marks.
First preview will take place September 19.
SEPTEMBER 10: MAMMA MIA! HELSINKI
MAMMA MIA! premiere at Svenska Teatern in Helsinki is approaching. Ticket information here. As a reminder, you can watch here the cast to perform two songs
Like with KRISTINA, it looks like the international cast of MM! is having great time both at rehearsals and after work. The cast members often spend time and have fun together at leisure.
For Finnish people there's chance to book exclusive VIP-package to MM! with good tickets to quite sold out autumn season. Read more here.
Anton Häggblom (Tim) is interviewed in the latest issue of Kyrkpressen.
SEPTEMBER 9: CHOIR ALBUM BY BENNY
As we wrote a few weeks ago, The Chamber Choir of Gustaf Sjökvist is recording an album with music of Benny. Here some photos from the recording sessions:
SEPTEMBER 4: CIRKELN
The film CIRKELN is being edited. A cut should be completed in a couple of weeks.
AUGUST 30: KNIVSTA PRISMAKÖREN
Benny is known for his spontaneous ideas to support new or lesser known artistes. Last summer 9-13 years old children's choir Prismakören from Knivsta was rehearsing songs of legenday folk musician Evert Taube at Skeppsholmen, close to Benny's studio and office. Benny heard about this, got interested and offered the choir the chance to record an album at his Riksmixningsverket studio. The recording took place this week, Benny personally did not attend the sessions.
AUGUST 30: GUSTAF SJÖKVIST KÖR
The choir of Gustav Sjökvist, which has collobrated with Benny for ex. on VILAR GLAD. I DIN FAMN (the song for wedding of Crown Princess Victoria) has been recording an album at Riksmixningsverket studio during summer. Anders Eljas has arranged Benny´s music (it has not been announced which songs exactly, but propably old material) for the album.
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