Classic!

Check out more pictures at the web site Collection page

Mamma Mia Wins Golden Reel Award

Mamma Mia The Movie has won a Golden Reel at the 56th GOLDEN REEL AWARDS
held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in
Los Angeles February 21, 2009.

Best Sound Editing:
MUSIC IN A MUSICAL FEATURE FILM
“Mamma Mia!”
Universal Pictures
Produced by: Judy Craymer, Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks,
Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus
Directed by: Phyllida Lloyd
Supervising Music Editor: Tony Lewis
Music Editor: Rob Houston
Musical Director: Martin Lowe

Golden Raspberry Awards
Worst supporting actor:
Pierce Brosnan – ‘Mamma Mia!’

So Unfair as he is brilliant in the film and man what a great singer!

Björn’s new studio trouble

Earlier this month Björn got persmission to build his new studio in Gotland.  However it now seems Swedish environmental agencys have decided to apply to county authorities to have the permission overturned.
Björn got official permission to build his new studio on the island of Gotland, at Furillen, in the north-east part of the island.

Drawing of new studio plans

Björn said: “One can´t find a better place on Earth”. He alsosaid in an interview for Swedish radio that ´he needs some time to rest and get inspired again after working on a project, such as a movie or a musical” .
He hopes that in the future there´ll be musicals, movies, songs or novels that come from Furillen.

Björn Ulvaeus blasts ‘stingy’ file sharers.

*THE PIRATE BAY TRIAL
Abba star blasts ‘stingy’ file sharers
Björn Ulvaeus has launched a stinging broadside at advocates of internet piracy. Ulvaeus on Tuesday slammed supporters of The Pirate Bay who “speak with trembling voices about their ‘freedom’ on the internet.”

Writing for Swedish opinion website Newsmill, Ulvaeus said the file sharing site’s fans were fighting for “the ‘freedom’ to be lazy and stingy”.

The co-producer of the smash hit Mamma Mia movie also lambasted file sharers of copyrighted material for portraying a David and Goliath scenario, in which greedy movie and record industry bosses engage in the wanton exploitation of defenceless consumers.

“But anything they steal was once one person’s idea, a single little person. They don’t want to talk about that,” he writes.

Ulvaeus also wondered why it was “so damn hard to understand” that an idea would only see the light of day if copyright holders and their financiers knew they stood a chance of getting paid for their work.

Ulvaeus, who is a regular contributor to the opinion pages of Sweden’s newspapers, concluded by asking readers to set aside legal wranglings for a moment to ask themselves the question:

“Is it really so damn difficult to pay your way?”

© TL / Paul O’Mahony

*THE PIRATE BAY TRIAL Four people who run one of the world’s leading file-sharing websites denied any wrong doing as they went on trial in Stockholm on Monday for facilitating illegal downloads of copyrighted material.
“File-sharing services can be used both legally and illegally,” one defence lawyer, Per Samuelsson, stressed to the court after the trial against The Pirate Bay organisers opened in Stockholm.
Fredrik Neij, Gottfrid Svartholm, Peter Sunde and Carl Lundström are accused of “promoting other people’s infringements of copyright laws,” according to charges filed by senior public prosecutor Haakan Roswall.
If found guilty, the four each face sentences up to two years in jail and heavy fines.

Classic ABBA

Released today 16.2.2009

 

Benny was a judge for Swedish newspaper Dagen Nyheter 2009 Culture Prize, this year awarded to Swedish singer-songwriter Frida Hyvönen – the awards were presented on February 19. 

 The winner was awarded 50,000 Krona and a statue made by sculptor Eva Lange.

Photo © Dagen Nyheter

Alfred Hasse

News reports from Germany say that Frida’s father, Alfred Haase has died. He passed away a few weeks ago at the nursing home  he had been living in. We send our heartfelt sympathies to Frida and his family

Info: Gretta.1267

Yellow Ribbon support

Please show your support for the victims of the Victorian bushfires by wearing a yellow ribbon. The yellow ribbon signifies support for the CFA, DSE and interstate firefighters and solidarity with the hundreds who have died and thousands who have lost homes and possessions.

“The yellow ribbons give an emotional connection to those in devastated towns and bush communities laid waste in Australia’s worst natural disaster.

“Wearing the ribbon is a visible link to the survivors.”

Australian Bushfire Appeal.

My heart goes out to all those affected by the fires in Australia. I’m so proud of the way the country has banded together and unified to help those in need. Even half way around the world there’s an invisible chord that connects me to home and I wanted to send some love back.
It’s terrible to hear of the sudden devastation and loss of life and I wanted you to know if you’re affected our hearts are with you.

D

You can donate to the Red Cross State Government Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund by clicking on the link.

Björn and Benny on the Elaine Paige radio show

Björn and Benny will be guests on the  Elaine Paige on Sunday radio show on BBC Radio 2 – March 29.
You can listen to it via this link (From March 29th)

BAO LONDON GIG UPDATE

To mark the start of the Swedish EU Presidency on July 1, 2009, the Embassy of Sweden in London has joined forces with the City of London Festival, as well as other partners, in presenting a series of exciting and innovative events in London. .The inaugural week of festivities include a concert at the Guildhall by the Nordic Chamber Orchestra, featuring world renowned trombonist and conductor Christian Lindberg, an open fun filled family day at Hampstead Heath with amongst others Benny Andersson and his Orchestra (of ABBA fame) and an extensive Ingmar Bergman film season at the Barbican. The Swedish Embassy tell me that the concert is free and there will be no tickets, and will be held at the bottom of Parliment Hill.

July 4th,2009
Sweden on Stage
Benny Andersson and his Orchestra –BAO Benny Andersson´s Orchestra
Hampstead Heath

The Embassy of Sweden -London are pleased to welcome Benny Andersson Orchestra to London and Hampstead Heath.  

Time: TO BE CONFIRMED.
No tickets required
Hampstead Heath