icethesite - Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus news site

Comments

• Posted by Philsafan, February 25, 2010 17:24:

  I know it's not ABBA. but a release date of 6th April would have been quite appropriate!
  
  If it is released on time, we'll now get chance to hear the English lyrics in full before the RAH concert - roll on April!
  
  Phil

  
  
• Posted by colinthebruce, February 25, 2010 17:35:

  well timed for something else...can't think what!

  
  
• Posted by mick from Los Angeles, February 25, 2010 18:47:

  I was there and it was a magical night, brilliant concert and I can't wait to listen to it again and again!

  
  
• Posted by Jonathan Van Dusen, February 26, 2010 01:29:

  @Philsafan: Note that, in North America, music and DVDs are usually released on Tuesdays, not Mondays. So this means that, in the land of Broadway itself, the CD will probably be released on Tuesday, April 6th! Well spotted. That has to be intentional.

  
  
• Posted by Tony, February 26, 2010 01:50:

  Another case of "Yay!" ...more treats for us in 2010 :o)
  
  After seeing that recent-ish Swedish TV special on the web from SVT, and hearing the wonderful Bryn Terfel sing some Kristina songs, I think it'd be marvelous magic if he, Benny and Björn could collaborate on an album (as per my normal hopes, if you're reading this B&B: "Hint-Hint" ;o)
  
  Cheers, Tony :o)

  
  
• Posted by Greg, February 26, 2010 03:36:

  I agree but remember that the April 6 release date is also Agnetha's birthday. I think she'll be sweet 60 this year. Can't wait to hear the English version!

  
  
• Posted by Robb, February 26, 2010 04:02:

  Hmmm...April 5th release. I believe a Swedish World Superstar has a birthday on that same date. What are the chances...
  Helen Sjöholm is such a magnificent singer, I have to have this CD bundle in my collection. Thanks ICE for all that you do to keep us informed.

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, February 26, 2010 07:17:

  
  April 5th is Easter Monday. Will it really be released then? I have never bought anything from Amazon on pre-order. Is there a chance that it might come arrive at my home before the release date, say on the Saturday before?
  
  Early days yet, but so great to see the wheels in motion!
  
  Lee

  
  
• Posted by Ian, February 26, 2010 08:39:

  HMV.com has it on pre-order for £11.99 (£3 cheaper than Amazon) with free UK delivery. Of course, it's always possible that the Amazon price will come down before 5 April and they do have a price guarantee which means that if the price is reduced below the original pre-order price, they will charge the lower price.

  
  
• Posted by Philsafan, February 26, 2010 10:07:

  @Greg: Just a point of order really, but Agnetha's birthday is 5th April, not the 6th. Don't send her present on the wrong day! lol
  
  Phil

  
  
• Posted by Terry Malloy, February 26, 2010 15:40:

  Brilliant,and for us who were there..fantastic momento of a glorious 2 evenings!! Thank you B n B!!!!

  
  
• Posted by Stefan, February 26, 2010 20:21:

  Hi!
  
  I just find it a little ironic that 25 years after "Chess" and "Phantom of the Opera" came out at nearly the same time, now the sequel of "Phantom" will be released 4 weeks before "Kristina". I think, that a lot of Media attention will be drawn to the sequel of "Phantom"!
  
  Stefan

  
  
• Posted by mikespeir, February 28, 2010 01:37:

  Why is it only two CDs? Is the English version that much shorter than the Swedish?

  
  
• Posted by Ian Cole, February 28, 2010 11:40:

  @ Mike: yes, it is. Nothing really major cut, but some music is gone and some songs shortened.

  
  
• Posted by Nick Hardy, February 28, 2010 13:16:

  Have you HEARD the lead song from the Phantom sequel? Awful!

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, February 28, 2010 17:18:

  I wonder how intense the publicity will be. For Story of a Heart Benny was *everywhere*. They must be planning a major campaign, surely, maybe even with some video of the Carnegie Hall concert.
  
  Lloyd Webber once said, of Kristina, that he wished he had written it! I bet!
  
  We only need to Let the Music Speak ...
  
  Lee

  
  
• Posted by Ian Cole, February 28, 2010 19:36:

  @ Saphie: the Royal Albert Hall concert is obviously timed to coincide with the CD release. Now *there's* publicity!

  
  
• Posted by Andrew, March 01, 2010 18:23:

  Hi Ice. Do you know when Kristina at Carnegie Hall will be released in USA?

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, March 02, 2010 13:03:

  
  Good news and bad news. Amazon have dropped the price (to lower than HMV) but changed the release date to April 12, which is what we originally thought it would be.
  
  Lee

  
  
• Posted by Andrew, March 06, 2010 01:09:

  US amazon.com just posted Kristina at Carnegie Hall( IMPORT) on 4/13/2010 - $ 32.99
  Does is mean it will not be released here at all?
  Too bad.

  
  
• Posted by john bernhardt, March 08, 2010 02:44:

  Well apparently, somebody is going to release Story of a Heart here in the US. I honestly didn't expect it, but it's just the latest in a long line of ABBA things coming out late or limited or not all...a list that includes various singles, ABBA-the movie, Shine, Eyes of a woman, the entire Benny Andersson solo ouvre, the ABBA Studio albums on CD, etc etc....
  
  And now Kristina is coming out in the UK first.
  It's going to be available for import here in the US. How wonderful!
  
  It really gets quite tiresome for us US fans to have to get these ABBA related releases on import. The concert was held in New York-the show is about people coming to America, it's written by the guys who did Chess and Mamma Mia , it's a good score, my god why can't they just release the damn thing in America in the normal manner.

  
  
• Posted by Andrew, March 08, 2010 18:05:

  you`re right bernhardt, i don`t get it, especially now with Kristina cd , why import?
  Someone said Krtistina will be released on cd in USA before the rest of the world, now they feed us with import

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, March 09, 2010 06:50:

  This is probably just a timing issue. I have seen amazon have product for import before when it has been announced in another country before ones own . There are still five weeks to go . I cant imagine that it wont have a US release .

  
  
• Posted by Jonathan Van Dusen, March 09, 2010 15:27:

  For the record, it often seems like Amazon.com lists products as imports just until they know more about the American release. I think that's what happening here. -- since B&B&Co may be aiming to do Kristina on Broadway, they'd be out of their minds not to have a domestic release in the U.S. If they're *really* serious about it, they should also release it on iTunes.

  
  
• Posted by StephenUK, March 10, 2010 22:19:

  Can anyone who did see it in New York give an idea of running time - in the interview Benny seems to refers to the English version at 3.5 hours . If its not going to finish at the Albert Hall until eleven and knowing theres a long walk back to the tube station and paddington might mean I need to look at a hotel but still hoping to avoid that cost! Grateful for any estimated running times.
  

  
  
• Posted by Andrew, March 11, 2010 12:51:

  I saw it twice in NYC and it was over after 2 hrs 45 min

  
  
• Posted by mikespeir, March 12, 2010 13:04:

  Interesting, Andrew, because the three-disk Swedish (concert) version I have runs for a total of 2:45:47. That would mean it's virtually the same length as the English. Maybe they're just packing more onto each CD?

  
  
• Posted by Andrew, March 12, 2010 16:02:

  The English version of Kristina is shorter, some songs are out, some are shorter , f.e. A SUNDAY IN BATTERY PARK, this one is probably cut in half.
  In NYC it started at 7 PM and first act ended at 8:30 PM, second act started at 8:45 PM and ended 9:45PM. So it looks like the Kristina concert was 2 hrs 30 mintes long

  
  
• Posted by Kevin, March 12, 2010 22:39:

  So it looks like there should be plenty of room on 2 CDs for the entire Carnegie Hall show. A single disc can hold 80 minutes, and if the show ran for 150 minutes--including applause, I assume!--then there shouldn't be any problem getting the entire show on 2 discs.

  
  
• Posted by Ian Cole, March 13, 2010 20:59:

  @ John: I read somewhere this week that the US release date was April 20th 2010. Unfortunately I can't remember where.

  
  
• Posted by Glenn Korbel, March 18, 2010 02:10:

  I've suggested this before: Benny and Bjorn trimming it to 2 1/2 hours or so for a run in Finland is a clear indication that they are at least thinking Broadway or the West End. Why else shorten a piece that had people wanting more after almost four hours?

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, March 23, 2010 11:07:

  
  Ooohhh, the excitement builds. Tick, tock ... Only 3 weeks to go. Maybe we will have the CD in our hands by then and only a day to go before the RAH performance. Historic and wondrous times ahead.
  
  Meanwhile, I am enjoying reading the Emigrants series (just finished book 1) - they really are very readable.
  
  Lee

  
  
• Posted by Neil, March 23, 2010 11:59:

  Has anyone had the tickets? I haven't. I called the RAH a couple of weeks ago, and they said they were still working on the ticket design and none had been sent out.

  
  
• Posted by Ice, March 23, 2010 12:10:

  The Albert Hall are hoping to have all tickets sent out and possibly even received by Friday.

  
  
• Posted by Maria Giulia, March 23, 2010 12:24:

  Amazon.com have now added a product description which reads:
  "Elaborate package includes 2 CDs and 48 page booklet containing a synopsis, photographs and complete lyrics."
  Sounds great and I'm happy they included the lyrics!!!

  
  
• Posted by Alec Billen, March 23, 2010 16:52:

  Amazon now have Kristina cd entered at no.18 in their Pre-release chart as posted by music week. Good news me thinks.

  
  
• Posted by Andrew, March 23, 2010 17:11:

  here`s amazon.com KRISTINA AT CARNEGIE HALL product description
  
  Kristina is a major musical theater saga, composed by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, original members of the legendary ABBA and composers of the theater and movie sensation, MAMMA MIA! Based on famous Swedish novels of the 1950s, Kristina tells the moving story of several families who left famine plagued Sweden in the 1850s to find a new life in America. This concert performance, recorded live at Carnegie Hall, was a sold out event. The complete recording is a MUST HAVE for fans of the great Benny and Bjorn and musical theater lovers. Recorded live at Carnegie Hall in late 2009, Kristina features internationally renowned performers Russell Watson, Helen Sjoholm, and Louise Pitre (MAMMA MIA!). Broadway legend Paul Gemignani conducts a 50 piece orchestra and 20 member chorus. Elaborate package includes 2 CDs and 48 page booklet containing a synopsis, photographs and complete lyrics.

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, March 24, 2010 09:32:

  
  Yay, the day is getting closer! Amazon (UK and US) now have full track listing for CDs.
  
  Odd that Amazon UK doesn't have the description that US site has. No doubt they will catch up!
  
  48 page booklet - fantastic! When the day comes that I have this package in my hands I will need to pinch myself to make sure it is real. I can imagine just holding it and staring at it in total awe for ages before I even get the CDs out!
  
  Lee

  
  
• Posted by Jeffrey Royer, April 02, 2010 20:47:

  Amazon.com now seems to suggest that Kristina at Carnegie Hall will be released in the US on May 4, at $22.99, which is considerably less than the earlier import price.

  
  
• Posted by Jeffrey Royer, April 03, 2010 15:55:

  Kristina at Carnegie Hall is now featured on the Decca Broadway site: http://www.deccabroadway.com/product/default.aspx?pid=64053&aid=8177 It appears that there will eventually be samples of the songs, but that feature isn't working as yet. By the way, Story of a Heart is located at http://www.deccabroadway.com/product/default.aspx?pid=63967&aid=8177 and one can listen to samples of that.
  

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, April 10, 2010 11:04:

  Yay, I have my copy!!!!
  
  Ordered from HMV online on Thursday, shipped same day, arrived today.
  
  It is beautifully packaged.
  
  I can't believe it is here ...
  
  Lee

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, April 11, 2010 11:20:

  Sunday Express has a two-page article today, mostly about Russell Watson but includes photo of him and Helen.
  
  Express describes Kristina as a 'symphonic opera'.
  
  Also an online version:
  
  http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/view/168510/Happy-Russell-s-back-in-tune-with-life-and-love
  
  Lee

  
  
• Posted by vera, April 11, 2010 12:03:

  Hello everyone,
  is there anybody in need of one ticket for KRISTINA on Wednesday? My companion is unfortunately not able to join me, so I have one spare seat beside mine on offer, which is Grand Tier 9 Seat 3 & 4. Please mail me, if possible until Monday evening, cause I´ll be leaving Tuesday morning to the airport. Thanks and see you then :O)
  Vera

  
  
• Posted by vera, April 12, 2010 09:23:

  Hi
  it´s me again, I just recognised that my mailaddress does not show... so please if you want the ticket contact me at info@vera-zett.de. Thanks!
  Vera

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, April 12, 2010 12:08:

  The CD is currently 2nd best selling in musicals category at Amazon:
  
  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/music/231252/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_m_h__1_3_last
  
  and 76th overall!
  
  Lee

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, April 12, 2010 18:28:

  Amazon and Play temporarily sold out!

  
  
• Posted by andrew , April 13, 2010 05:10:

  Just received an Email for Amazon UK.
  Kristina put back a week. not dispatched until 19 to 24 Apr.
  Citing non supply from Decca as the reason

  
  
• Posted by Neil, April 13, 2010 08:58:

  Likewise - I ordered it weeks ago. Absolutely hopeless service. I guess its a trip to Oxford Circus at lunchtime...

  
  
• Posted by Jim Stevens, April 13, 2010 13:17:

  I'll be on vacation in Florida when it's released in the US. The Fort Lauderdale Borders better have it in stock or there will be hell to pay:)

  
  
• Posted by Neil, April 13, 2010 13:17:

  HMV Oxford Circus completely sold out! Anyone know where to get it in central London?
  

  
  
• Posted by Ollie, April 13, 2010 13:35:

  Try Dress Circle in Monmouth St.They might still have some.

  
  
• Posted by Guillermo, April 13, 2010 13:55:

  Ordered mine from HMV.co.uk today and dispatched 30 minutes later. Cancel your orders from Amazon and do it via HMV... much better service!

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, April 13, 2010 14:01:

  
  Has anyone tried Dress Circle (www.dresscircle.co.uk)?
  

  
  
• Posted by Ian Howell, April 13, 2010 14:30:

  After Amazon put my delivery date back to 27th April, I went to my local HMV shop, and found two copies of Kristina!
  
  As for the performance itself-excellent is an understatement. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow night at the Royal Albert Hall.

  
  
• Posted by Declan, April 13, 2010 15:02:

  The CD was released in Ireland on Friday which was a little frustrating as I was in London working that day, but I bought it as soon as I got back to dublin. It's WELL worth the wait. The production in so immaculate it sounds like a studio recording. I haven't digested the whole 'masterpiece' yet but it far outshone my expectation. Helen's voice is even better than on the original recording (if that's possible)and the English versions sound as beautiful as the Swedish. It actually brought tears to my eyes!
  Declan (Dublin)

  
  
• Posted by Thorsten, April 13, 2010 15:15:

  Had also ordered from Amazon weeks ago and received an email yesterday evening, revising the delivery date by a week or so. Went to my local HMV in Ealing, but they had already sold the one copy they had ordered! Managed to buy the (also solitary) copy from HMV Hounslow in my lunch hour today. Hurrah, cannot wait to listen to it this evening.

  
  
• Posted by Graham Harriss, April 14, 2010 08:29:

  I've been looking forward to this release for ages like most people. I was very disappointed when HMV at Lakeside knew nothing about it and said they weren't even getting it in!! I tried at my local ASDA as they have it on their website, but no!!!I was thinking of heading up town at the weekend but Neil is saying that Oxford Circus have sold out so maybe this will be a wasted trip. Oh well!!! Anybody got any clues?
  

  
  
• Posted by Neil, April 14, 2010 09:13:

  Thanks Saphie got it in Dress Circle in Monmouth St, £14.99. They said they had 117 copies at 2pm yesterday - even had it playing in store...

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, April 14, 2010 10:48:

  Neil - Great! Bet the rest go like hot cakes. I got the Chess In Concert CD/DVD from them last year.
  
  Does Decca really think this release is of such limited interest? Very odd. Even on Breakfast News this morning the report didn't mention the Cd ...

  
  
• Posted by Sapphie, April 14, 2010 16:27:

  
  Anyone who can't wait to get hold of the CD can hear short samples at Mono Music:
  
  http://www.monomusic.se/cd-kristina-at-carnegie-hall.aspx