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MEDIA RELEASE
14 March 2011
For immediate release
ABBAWORLD extended to 26 June
ABBAWORLD, the exhibition about the 70s global pop
sensation ABBA whose music almost four decades on continues to attract a
new generation of fans, has now been extended at the Powerhouse Museum
until 26 June 2011.
Powerhouse
Museum Associate Director, Mark Goggin, said: “Tens of
thousands of
Sydney fans have really enjoyed this exhibition
for the pure fun it offers visitors as they relive the era of ABBA that
captured audiences worldwide through their engaging music, glitzy
costumes and invigorating performances.
“We have been fortunate to have the opportunity to extend ABBAWORLD’s
season in
Sydney before the exhibition returns to
Sweden.”
ABBAWORLD captures the music, memories and magic that made the
Swedish group a worldwide phenomenon. It explores where the four members
of the group came from, the formation and success of ABBA and the post
ABBA years. It features ABBA’s first major international live
performance and Sweden’s first win at the Eurovision Song contest in
1974, their highly acclaimed concert tours including the Australian tour
in 1977, and the impact of their music that has inspired several hit
movies and a stage show - Muriel’s
Wedding, Priscilla Queen
of the Desert and Mamma
Mia.
On display are more than 20 original costumes, the epitome of 70’s
glam, live concert footage, promotional and behind-the-scenes
photographs, album artworks and other ABBA memorabilia, as well as
exclusive interviews with members Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson,
Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog.
The ABBA concert dressing room, the writing studio on Viggsö - an
island in the
Stockholm archipelago where many of ABBA’s songs were
written, and ABBA’s recording studio Polar Studio in
Stockholm where the group
recorded its last two albums, are also recreated in the exhibition.
Visitors can relive ABBA’s music and sing and dance their way through
the exhibition using a series of interactives including perform on a
stage with ABBA, dance in an ABBA video, record a sing-a-long with ABBA,
or be photographed on an ABBA album cover.
For more than 35 years, ABBA has maintained international success
with their songs that remain a fixture on radio playlists today. ABBA is
one of the top three selling artists in the world, having sold 375
million records worldwide. They still sell over 3 million records a year
Band member Björn Ulvaeus said: “It always seemed to me that people
in the music press and also in the music industry sort of took it for
granted that ABBA would be a one hit wonder. Why would we be different
from any other Eurovision winner?
“We really had an up-hill struggle after
Waterloo and our follow-up singles didn’t do
well. Then the Australians came to our rescue. They released SOS and
Mamma Mia and both songs made the charts in a big way down under.
Suddenly everyone else around the world realized there was life in the
band that was supposed to be dead.
I’m
forever grateful to the Australians for that!”
Jonathan Parsons, Sydney Curator, ABBAWORLD said: “ABBA’s appeal was
first and foremost because they were consummate pop artists producing
some of the most well-crafted, memorable and enduring pop songs in pop
history. They were pioneers in the pop form breaking new ground in
recording, concert production and promotional music videos. For
Australia this
culminated in the extraordinary scenes of adoration for the group that
traveled across the globe to perform in
Australia in 1977. Their music spoke
to the heart, through joy and pain, and left a musical legacy that is
still vibrant today.”
On View: ABBAWORLD
Date:
Until 26 June 2011
Address:
Powerhouse
Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo,
Sydney
Telephone: (02) 9217 0111 or
infoline (02) 9217 0444
Website:
www.powerhousemuseum.com
Hours: 10.00am to 5.00pm
Admission: Adult $22, Child $12, family $50,
concession/seniors $16.
Book tickets at
www.powerhousemuseum.com/abbaworld
- Ends
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ABBAWORLD is produced by Touring Exhibitions,
Sweden.
ABOUT TOURING EXHIBITIONS
Touring Exhibitions creates exhibition experiences for all audiences
and is backed by Polar Music, which is part of Universal Music Group;
Eventum Exhibitions, with roots from Live Nation; Parks & Resorts
Scandinavia; SynergeraRättighetsförvaltning; and an investment group led
by Investering i Kunskap. For more information, please visit:
www.touringX.com
-Ends
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Mandy
Campbell, Marketing & Communications,
Powerhouse
Museum
Tel: 9217 0551 or 0422 9299 27
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