Английская Википедия:ABBA Voyage

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ABBA Voyage is a virtual concert residency by the Swedish pop group ABBA. The concerts feature virtual avatars (dubbed 'ABBAtars'), depicting the group as they appeared in 1979, and utilise the songs' re-recorded vocals from the group themselves in a studio in Sweden specifically for this show, accompanied by a live instrumental band on stage. The dancing and singing is all captured from the studio set so it is all them except for their younger CGI avatar appearances. The concerts are held in ABBA Arena, a purpose-built venue near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

The digital versions of ABBA have been created with motion capture and performance techniques with the four band members and the visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic, in what is the company’s first foray into music.

The ABBA Voyage concert is produced by Svana Gisla and Ludvig Andersson, director Baillie Walsh, co-executive producer Johan Renck and choreographer Wayne McGregor.

Pophouse, a Swedish entertainment company, is a co-developer of the project and its lead investor. Two Pophouse executives, Michael Bolingbroke and Per Sundin, both serve in leadership positions of the production company behind the show. According to multiple media reports, the project is one of the most expensive live music experiences in history, with a budget of $175 million. The show was nominated for two categories at the 21st Visual Effects Society Awards, losing Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a CG Project to the science-fiction film Avatar: The Way of Water, but winning Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project.

Background

Файл:Abba at the West Ham United Olympic Stadium.jpg

A billboard for the concert at London Stadium, December 15, 2021

ABBA had unofficially split up in December 1982, and despite renewed interest in the band from the 1990s onwards, following the worldwide success of their greatest hits album ABBA Gold, the musical Mamma Mia! and its film adaptation, the members had repeatedly refused to re-form. Reportedly, they turned down an offer of $1 billion in 2000 to perform again. In 2008, Björn Ulvaeus told The Sunday Telegraph, "We will never appear on stage again. There is simply no motivation to re-group." He repeated the statement in an interview in 2014 while promoting the publication of ABBA: The Official Photo Book.

Файл:London Abba Arena Voyage.jpg

ABBA Arena in October 2022

In 2016 American media reported that British entrepreneur Simon Fuller had approached Abba with his idea to create a virtual reality Abba using new technology. In November that year Fuller was photographed in London meeting with Abba. In September 2017, Benny Andersson told Swedish newspaper Expressen that there were plans for ABBA to tour "virtually", using digital avatars of the group. Ulvaeus told the BBC that the idea had been proposed to the band by Simon Fuller. In April 2018, the four members issued a statement saying that during preparations for the tour, they had regrouped in the studio and had recorded two new songs, titled "I Still Have Faith in You" and "Don't Shut Me Down".

On 26 August 2021, the "ABBA Voyage" website was launched, indicating the announcement of a new project a week later. On 2 September 2021, a globally-streamed press conference from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London confirmed that the virtual concerts would take place in London from 27 May 2022. In addition, it was announced that a new ABBA album, Voyage, would be released on 5 November. The new album would feature ten songs including the previously-announced "I Still Have Faith in You" and "Don't Shut Me Down". The concerts feature a 10-piece live band playing alongside the group's avatars, performing 22 of ABBA's songs. The live band was selected by James Righton of Klaxons and features Little Boots on keys.

Concerts started in May 2022, and are currently extended until November 2024,Шаблон:R with the possibility to extend the shows up until April 2026, when the permission for the ABBA Arena expires to give space to a housing project on the site.

As of September 4, 2023, 'ABBA Voyage' has generated over $150 million in sales and sold more than 1.5 million tickets, outperforming many major live shows. The venue maintains a near-perfect attendance record, with a 99% full house every night. The show runs seven times a week, earning over $2 million weekly, with an average ticket price of around £85 ($105).

ABBAtar technology

The ABBA band members wore motion-capture suits as part of the development process and were filmed as they performed a 22-song set over the course of five weeks. Some 160 cameras were used, with graphics later added by Industrial Light & Magic. The choreography is based on the band members' real movements, but captured from younger body doubles. The digital band, utilising the songs' originally-recorded vocals, are accompanied by a live instrumental band on stage.

Reception

Opening night

The opening night of ABBA Voyage was attended by celebrities, including Kylie Minogue, Keira Knightley, Kate Moss, Sharleen Spiteri, and Carola Häggkvist, as well as members of the Swedish royal family including Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. Mark Sutherland of Variety wrote that the crowd gave a standing ovation at the concert. After the 90-minute avatar performance, the four members of ABBA appeared on stage and gave a curtain call. The first showing was met with positive acclaim.

Setlist

The following set list was obtained from the concert held on 26 May 2022 at the ABBA Arena in London, the opening show. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the residency.

Act 1

1. "Skallgång" (introduction)
2. "The Visitors"
3. "Hole in Your Soul"
4. "SOS" (with "EastEnders theme tune" piano introduction)
5. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" (video interlude)

Act 2

6. "Chiquitita"
7. "Fernando"
8. "Mamma Mia"
9. "Does Your Mother Know"
10. "Eagle" ("Rora" video interlude 1)

Act 3

11. "Lay All Your Love on Me" (video interlude)
12. "Summer Night City"
13. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
14. "Voulez-Vous" ("Rora" video interlude 2)

Act 4

15. "When All Is Said and Done"
16. "Don't Shut Me Down"
17. "I Still Have Faith in You"
18. "Waterloo" (video interlude)

Act 5

19. "Thank You for the Music"
20. "Dancing Queen"

Encore

21. "The Winner Takes It All"
22. "I Wonder (Departure)" (instrumental outro)

Personnel

Personnel list adapted from Vogue, NME and Industrial Light & Magic, unless otherwise noted. Шаблон:Col div ABBA:

• Agnetha Fältskog
• Björn Ulvaeus
• Benny Andersson
• Anni-Frid Lyngstad

Band:

• James Righton – band casting
• Sarah Burrell – keyboards, synthesizer
• Victoria Hesketh – keyboards, synthesizer
• Dom John – guitar
• Anna Kirby – sax
• Tuca Milan – percussion
• Eoin Rooney – guitar
• Victoria Smith – drums
• Joe Stoddart – bass
• Rachel Clark – backing vocals
• Amina Gichinga – backing vocals
• Grace Barrett – backing vocals

Crew:

• Svana Gisla – producer
• Ludvig Andersson – producer
• Baillie Walsh – director
• Johan Renck – co-executive producer
• Wayne McGregor – movement director, choreographer
• Steve Aplin – motion director
• Ben Morris – visual effects supervisor
• Shynola – "Rora" video interludes
• Stufish Entertainment Architects – ABBA Arena

Body doubles:

• William Collins – Björn double
• Sonya Cullingford – Frida double
• Max Hessman – Benny double
• Isabel La Cras – Agnetha double
• Liv Austen – Agnetha understudy
• Heather Birley – Frida understudy
• Leo Elso – Benny understudy
• James Pattison – Björn understudy

Wardrobe:

• Bea Åkerlund – head costume designer
• Manish Arora – costume designer
• Roth House – costume designer
• Michael Schmidt – costume designer
• Dolce & Gabbana – costume designers
• Erevos Aether – costume designers
• Carolin Holzhuber – shoes designer
• Terry de Havilland – shoes designer

External links

• Шаблон:URL