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Abba is here: Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny Andersson (from left to right) at the world premiere
Photo:
Ian West / dpa
In the end, »Abba-taren« was cheered – and then the living Abba members too: in the presence of Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, the new concert experience »Abba Voyage« had an acclaimed world premiere on Thursday in London celebrated.
From now on, the spectacular show can be seen several times a week.
The musicians of the legendary Swedish pop band, which split up 40 years ago, are not on stage in person, but as fully animated, digitally rejuvenated »Abba-tare«.
The vocals come from the tape, the instruments are played by a live band.
3000 spectators danced and sang enthusiastically along.
At the end they applauded for minutes for the artificial musicians - and for the real ones who took the stage at the end.
Celebrity guests
Among the guests were King Carl Gustaf of Sweden with Queen Silvia, pop star Kylie Minogue, actress Keira Knightley and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The complex production, for which all four Abba stars – Björn, 77, Benny, 75, Agnetha, 72, and Anni-Frid, 76, – had to dance for weeks in front of cameras in motion capture suits, required its own concert hall.
For reasons of space, the Abba Arena was built in east London near the Olympic Stadium.
The modern technology includes a screen with 65 million pixels and almost 300 speakers.
The preparations lasted five years.
The tickets for "Abba Voyage" cost the equivalent of between 25 euros and 169 euros and are initially available until December.
Many performances were sold out long before they even started.
ptz/dpa
