ABBA-The Albums
Kristina
från duvemåla & 16 Favoriter Ur Kristina
solo work
by Helen Sjoholm, Peter Joback
|
Beyond a
wide ocean"
Original Cast Album for Andersson-Ulvaeus' KRISTINA
FRAN DUVEMALA October 1996 Available on Swedish 3cd set
This is the original cast recording
to the Malmo production of the musical "KRISTINA
från Duvemåla ". Benny and Björn
wrote the music and lyrics for this musical version of Vilhem's
Moberg's classic UTVANDRARPOS. The books are known in English
as THE EMIGRANTS saga.
KRISTINA is the apex of Björn and Benny's
songwriting careers. KRISTINA is their most ambitious
work,a very brave effort to adapt a classic Swedish book into
a musical .The whole process- writing,staging, and then making
the record took six years. (the idea began germinating in Benny's
mind in the Spring of 1989). Some of the delay, was due to the
time it took Bjorn and Benny just to get comfortable with the
material..
On this record ,the lengthly
EMIGRANTS saga is distilled into 39 songs covering three CD's.
The stage musical itself was almost four hours..It premiered
on 7 October 1995 in Malmo. The cast album was released nearly
a year after the first staging. The stage production moved to
Stockholm in 1998, and closed in Stockholm in June 1999.
This run was shorter than a Broadway run because of the much
smaller size of the Swedish
markert and because B&B wanted to keep the musical fresh.
A million ticketbuyers have seen KRISTINA.
Unlike B& B's 1984 rock musical
CHESS ,KRISTINA is somewhat removed
from ABBA and rock n roll. Most of the songs feature a
full orchestra acompianment .KRISTINA does not
generally attempt to meld rock with musical forms. Still, many
of the songs have rock instrumentation. Nor does, KRISTINA
exactly sound like a Broadway musical. It's more like opera.
Perhaps, it could best described as Swedish folk opera.
For the first time, officially,
Benny and Björn's
roles have been spilt into distinct parts. On KRISTINA,
Benny wrote all the music and Björn all the lyrics. Also,
Benny was the sole producer of the recording. But, both Benny
and Björn were involved in the production of the play itself.
This split in their roles had
been evolving over time. When B&B began writing together
in the 1960's both had a hand in the writing the lyrics &
the music. Benny, stopped writing lyrics in the mid -seventies,
leaving all the lyrics to Björn (or Stig) Benny had always
given more of the music in their songwriting partnership, but
Björn's musical role seem to begin to diminish significantly
with ABBA's 1980's synthesizer dominated music.
In addition, by the late 1980's, Björn was no longer involved
with producing the songs that he wrote with Benny.
The ABBA band and Björn
do not play much of a role here musically since the music primarily
is scored for an Orchestra ,not a rock band. Björn, Rutger
Gunnarson, and Lasse Wellander do put in a minor appearence on
the album, somewhat obscurely as The Three Boys.
Interestingly, Björn and
Benny chose to write KRISTINA largely in Swedish,
their first album length work together since LYCKA to be recorded
in Swedish. This has meant that the musical has had a special
resonance in Sweden, but this also meant that the musical is
not widely known outside Sweden. Björn has had considerable
trouble writing a English version of the musical so that it could
be performed in America and elsewhere. Indeed Björn has
shown more interest in puttering around with Mamma Mia.
Writing English lyrics to KRISTINA that are as
good as the Swedish lyrics apparently is quite a daunting task.
A inital English version was finished in 2005 with the help of
another lyricist....
The EMIGRANTS saga was originally
told in four books written in the late 1940's and 1950's. The
four parts are titled in English: THE EMIGRANTS, UNTO A GOOD
LAND, THE SETTLERS, and LAST LETTER HOME. A famous
film adaption of the books starring Liv Ullmann was made in the
1970's .
As a whole, the four books tell
the story of band of emigrants who leave southern Sweden to move
to Minnesota in about 1850. The town nearest to where the emigrants
end up is called Taylor Falls. Taylor Falls ,Minnesota is an
actual town on the Wisconsin Border near Minneapolis. The books
spent a lot of time explaining why the Emigrants leave, a lot
of time showing the hardship of the ship journey, and then the
remainder of the time showing the fates that befall the former
Swedes when they live in America. The lyrics in this musical
version are surprisingly faithful to the original book- this
isn't a " Hollywood" adaption. Only a few of the songs
include things that did not occur in the books. The KRISTINA
of the title is a fictional KRISTINA Nilson who
was born in Duvemala. The role is played on the album by the
highly likable (and previously little known) Helen Sjöholm.
It is Helen's comely face that graces the stamp on the album
cover.
The book of the play includes
lots of dialogue and unlike CHESS ,the dramatic parts
of the play are usually just as interesting as the music. However
musically, KRISTINA is not quite as a interesting
a work as CHESS. KRISTINA is more conventional.and less varied.
CHESS came off as a daring and unique score.
It is dissapointing that B&B
have only had the opportunity to write two original musicals
in the 20 years since Abba.Various side projects,Bjorn's moving
to England, Bjorn's decreasing creative energies, delays in the
productions of CHESS
& KRISTINA as well as simply the lack of good ideas
have all meant that B&B have not been as prolific as they
might have been. So for some reason, B&B have not bothered
to followup Kristina with another original musical. Instead ,Bjorn
has focused mainly on Mamma Mia, Bjorn has occasionally
devoted time on efforts to revive CHESS, and translate Kristina
to English . Benny , spents a lot of time on his work wiith the
BAO, and on working with acts on his Mono record label, . It would be very surprising at this
point in their lives if B&B actually were able to write a
new musical at all, let alone, a musical of the
quality CHESS or KRISTINA.
As impressive as KRISTINA
is , it is one of Bjorn and Benny's least accessible works (at
least to the non-Swede) -the length and seriousness of the musical,
foreign language, and sameness of the orchestration work against
it as possible international stage success.There is just an incredible
amount of music involved.
The length of the musical does make it hard
to appreciate each and every song-there
is just too much music.The 39 songs presented here make this
is one of the longest works ever written by popular songwriters.
Some of KRISTINA's
musical numbers stand out more than others. The opening overture
and the first song sung by Kristina show off immediately the
influence of Swedish folk music.
On the second CD notice the juxtapostion
of the Americans with emigrant Swedes in "A Sunday in Battery
Park" . You actually get to hear the chorus singing in English
and Swedish in counterpoint. (Three or four songs of the 39 have
a smattering of English in them).
CD two closes with Helen Sjöholm singing "Min Astrakan"
an incredibly powerful lament for a apple tree that closes the
first act.
CD#3 has the two second act showstoppers;
"Du Maste Finnas" (You must Exist"). "Du
Maste..." is a song in which Kristina questions GOD's existence
(try to imagine ABBA doing a song like that) .
Helen Sjöholm wrenches incredible emotion out of this song
. "Du Maste Finnas" was the last song written for the
musical. It is probably the best B&B song of the past fifteen
years.
The other great song in the second
act is
"Guldet Blev till Sand" ( Gold Turns To Sand) sung
by young
Peter Jöback. Joback plays Kristina's head-strong/dreamer
brother-in-law Robert. The song would proved to be a monster
hit in Sweden where it set the record for the longest time on
the Swedish singles chart-(nearly two years).
Anders Eljas conducted the orchestra
as he
had on CHESS. Benny and Anders Eljas were the main
arrangers on this album. Lars Rudolfson directed the play and
cowrote the play's book with Jan Mark. The album was recorded
in Malmo and in Stockholm by Bernard Lohr. Polar and Mono Studios
were the primary recording studios used to record this album.
A lot more time was spent recording the record than the usual
cast album...
This is a challenging album to
listen to and an expensive one to buy. KRISTINA
is perhaps the most important of the ABBA solo records.
|
|
2009 ENGLISH VERSION OF KRISTINA
The next step for KRISTINA is to bring it to Broadway in a English language
version. Björn has been worked on
the English language translation of 'Kristina från Duvemåla'
with Herbert Kretzmer (who translated 'Les Miserables')."
and John Weidman, who wrote the books to "Pacific
Overtures" and "Assassins." That version was being
workshopped,but apparently possible investors thought the working
draft was "too sad", Benny and Bjorn also had problems
finding a suitable American actress to play Kristina and so they recorded a concert version intead ..Various Artists -Kristina at Carnegie Hall- , Universal Decca label, Planned release April 2010
This is the long awaited English language concert version of Kristina Fran Duvemala. The concert occurred on September 2009 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The concert featured Helen Sjoholm and Russell Watson. It received largely good reviews but some of the critics did not like it. Benny will produce the release of the CD version of this concert.
The concert will repeated in London on April 14, 2010. There are plans also to bring Kristina to Helsinki in 2012.
Musical numbers that were peformed at Carnegie Hall:
Act One
Overture
Path of Leaves and Needles
Where You Go I Go With You
Stone Kingdom
Down to the Sea
A Bad Harvest
No!
He's Our Pilot
Never
Golden Wheat Fields
All Who Are Grieving
We Open Up the Gateways
Peasants at Sea
Lice
In the Dead of Darkness
A Sunday in Battery Park
Home
American Man
Dreams of Gold
Summer Rose
Act Two
Emperors and Kings
Twilight Images Calling
Queen of the Prairie
Wild Grass
Gold Can Turn To Sand
Wildcat Money
To the Sea
Miracle of God
Down to the Waterside
Miscarriage
You Have To Be There
Here I Am Again
With Child Again
Rising from the Myth and Legend
I'll Be Waiting There
Summer Rose
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| Details for KRISTINA FRAN DUVEMALA |
|
Album Produced by Benny Andersson, All
Songs written by Andersson-Ulvaeus
Engineered by Bernard Lohr
Recorded in Malmo & Stockholm Sweden,
1995 /1996
Released only in Scandinavia October 1996
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| Track listing for Kristina från duvemåla with
English translated title |
|
CD1
Prolog -Prologue Overture
Duvemåla Hage -The
Duvemala Meadow
Min Lust Till Dej -My Lust For You
Ut Mot Ett Hav -Towards the Sea
Miss-växt -A Bad Harvest
Nej -No-
Lilla Skara Little Group
Aldrig- Never
Kom Till Mig Alla -Come To Me all
Vi Õppnar Alla
Grindar- WE open the Gates
CD2
Bönder På Havet -Farmers
At Sea
Löss -Lice
Stanna- Stay
Begravning Till Sjöss -Burial At Sea
A Sunday In Battery Park
Hemma-Home
Från New York Till
Stillwater-From New York
To Stillwater
Tänk Att Män
Som Han Kan Finnas-To
Think That Men Like Him Can Exist
Kamfer Och Lavendel Camphor and Lavender
Drömmen Om Guld The Dream of Gold
Min Astrakan-My Apple Tree
CD3
Överheten -Overlords
Ljusa Kvällar Om
Våren-Bright Evenings
in The Springtime
Präriens Drottning
Prarie Queen
Vildgräs-Wildgrass
Jag Har Förlikat
Mej Till Slut I am Reconciled
to My Fate
Guldet Blev Till Sand Gold Can Turn to Sand
Wild Cat Money
Ut Mot Ett Hav Out Towards
the Sea
Vill Du Inte Gifta Dej
Med Mej Do you not want
to be Married to Me
Ett Herrans Underverk The Good Lords Miracle
Down To The Sacred Wave
Missfall-Miscarriage
Du Måste Finnas
-You Must Exist
Skördefest -The Harvest Festival
Här Har Du Mej Igen-You Have Me Hear Again
Red Iron/Hjälp Mej
Trösta-Red Iron/Help
Me to Calm Him
Var Hör Vi Hemma Where Do We Call Home
I Gott Bevar In Good Keeping
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Original Malmo Cast-Sexton
Favoriter Ur Kristina November 1999 Swedish CD
16 Favoriter Ur Kristina is a
one disc abridgment
collection of some of the best songs from the
1996 3-cd KRISTINA cast album. Ten songs were chosen from the
first act
and six songs were chosen from ACT II.
This was released in November
1999, about
three full years after the original three disc
set. The cover on the CD is black with 16 small stamps .
This collection is worth getting
if you just want a taste of Kristina.
| Track listing: |
|
Prolog
Duvemåla Hage
Ut Mot Ett Hav
Lilla Skara
Aldrig
Vi Öppnar Alla Grindar
Stanna
Hemma
Tänk Att Män Som Han Kan Finnas
Min Astrakan
Vildgräs
Guldet Blev Till Sand
Du Måste Finnas
Här Har Du Mej Igen
Var Hör Vi Hemma
I Gott Bevar
|
To read about other Andersson-Ulvaeus
albums click here
* Home-ABBA-THE ALBUMS
* Björn
and Benny (1969-)Lycka,Musicals,80's,90's
*
CHESS-a musical
*
Original London Cast-Mamma Mia
To learn more about KRISTINA
visit these great web sites
* ABBAnatic: Kristina!
* Kristina English translation
by Michael Cain
* Kristina från Duvemåla-the
official site ! (in English & Swedish)
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Some of the SOLO ALBUMS
RECORDED by the principals of KRISTINA
PETER JOBACK
Swedish singer/actor who played Robert
in Kristina
fran Duvemala, Peter has also released
Swedish solo records. Among the songs he has recorded is a new
Swedish version of "Pity The Child' with lyrics by Björn
Ulvaeus.
Peter Jöback - Personliga Väl
This CD includes "pity The Child" in Swedish, and
Peter's version of "Du Maste Finna
Track lisitng -Nu eller adrig, Led hans väg, Varför
Gud ?, En sång om oss, Spindelkvinnans kyss, De t måste
finnas bättre liv än det här/På väg,
Ut mot ett hav, Jag vill inte ha nåt regn på min parad,
Nåt fint som pågår/Varje dag som går,
Vem ser ett barn, Ett hörn av himlen
Peter Joback-Only When I breathe September 2000 Swedish
CD
New CD by the breakout star of Kristina Fran Duvemala. Features
the single "Higher" , No participation by any former
members of ABBA. And ,yes people do breathe most of the time!
PETER JOBACK - I Feel Good And I'm Worth It -Swedish
CD Early 2002
Another new album from one of the stars of B&B's Kristina
Fran Duvemala. Ths songs are inEnglish.
Track listing: She's like a butterfly/
Sinner,/Help somebody,/Freeway /My fatal love /Crying on the dance
floor/This is the year/ Heal,/Northern guy/Time to get tacky/
Undress me/ I'm gonna do Peter' Joback-
Jag Kommer Hem Igen Till Jul Winter 2002
This is Peter's Christmas Album.
Peter Joback-Det Här Är Platsen
Peter Joback with Göteborgs Symfoniker Storybook
An album of mostly American standards from the 1950's and
1960's.
Peter Joback-Only When I breathe September
2000 Swedish CD
New CD by the breakout star of Kristina Fran
Duvemala. Features the single "Higher" , No participation
by any former members of ABBA or by small dogs with colorful clothes...
PETER JOBACK - I Feel Good And I'm Worth It Swedish
CD Early 2002
Another new album from one of the stars of B&B's Kristina
Fran Duvemala. Ths songs are English.
Track listing She's like a butterfly/
Sinner,/Help somebody,/Freeway /My fatal love /Crying on the dance
floor/This is the year/ Heal,/Northern guy/Time to get tacky/
Undress me/ I'm gonna do
Helen Sjöholm
Helen's starred in the B&B musical Kristina Fran
Duvemala and has worked with Benny on his two Benny
Andersson Orkerster albums as well as Chess Pa Svenska, and
Fran Waterloo to Duvemala/
Helen Sjöholm - Visor Early 2002 Swedish CD
Finally more than six years after Helen's emergence in the
B&B musical Kristina Fran Duvemala comes Her
first solo album. All the songs are in Swedish. Benny Andersson
plays accordion on this album.
Track listing: Allt under himmelens fäste,
Horgalåten, Man borde inte sova, Vid vassen av den krökta
ström, Här är gudagott att vara, Koppången,
Lustvin dansar en gavott med de fem sinnena, Då väntar
jag vid vägarna, Ombytlighet - vår tids gudinna, Vindarna
sucka, Tusen tankar, Du som har mitt hela hjärta, Varning,
Som en eld, Vårvindar friska
Helen Sjöholm & Anders Widmark Genom Varje Andetag-
2003 Swedish Cd Genom Varje Andetag
Track Listing: Sylvesters resa, Jag älskar dig, Jag har
bara ögonblick, Sakta stiger solen, Genom varje andetag,
Det finns något mer, Mozart och dammsugaren, Morgondans,
Fastän du sover, Kärlekssång, Luffarsång,
Säg mig för vems skull
Various Artists- Våra
Systrar Gå I Brokiga Kläder 2000 Swedish CD
This album is one of the first places you could hear Helen
Sjöholm outside of Kristina Fran Duvemala . However,
there is No ABBA music or ABBA band people on this album.
This Album has Poems by Karin Boye and Edith Södergran
with music by Leif Strand. Performances by Ulla-Carin Gustafson,
Johanna Nyström, Mija Folkesson, Rigmor Gustafsson, Sharon
Dyall, Camerata Roman (Chamber Orchestra) and Leif Strands Women´s
chior as well as Helen Sjöholm
Anders Ekborg
Anders Ekborg - Äkta vara 2006
CD-DVD- November 10, 2006 Swedish CD/CVD
New album in Swedish by the star of Kristina
and Chess Pa Svenska that features a new song by
B&B called " Han som vunnit allt". This
album has videos for all songs included.
1. Två
2. Tåget
3. När man vågar älska
4. Vinden i min själ
5. För dig
6. Vackra utan själ
7. Det var nästan som jag visste
8. Änglarna vill ha det så
9. Han som vunnit allt
10. Det borde vara jag
11. Intill
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| MONTIEF'S
HANDY GUIDE TO ABBA THE ALBUMS!!! |
| ABBA
THE ALBUMS -SITE INDEX -REVIEWS OF ALBUMS SORTED BY ARTIST |
|
ABBA THE ALBUMS - GROUP &
SOLO ALBUM REVIEWS LISTED IN ODER OF YEAR OF RELEASE
Chart revised July 2006 by
Montief OR SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE HIM...
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--Montief's handy guide
to ABBA the Albums
----------------------------------------------------------------------
by John Bernhardt
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