NAME OF THE GAME COMPILATION TARTED UP FOR GERMANY

From ABBA-intermezzo.de:

The ABBA hits compilation CD The Name Of The Game was released in Europe in February 2003. Now there is a box set including the same CD plus an ABBA key ribbon, with a sticker "Limited Edition mit ABBA Schlüsselband" on it.

Catalogue number: Universal Spectrum 064 969-2

1 Waterloo
2 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
3 Rock Me
4 Love Isn't Easy
5 Gonna Sing You My Lovesong
6 S.O.S.
7 When I Kissed The Teacher
8 The Name Of The Game
9 Hole In Your Soul
10 Why Did It Have To Be Me
11 On And On And On
12 Lay All Your Love On Me
13 The Visitors
14 Kisses Of Fire
15 When All Is Said And Done
16 Ring Ring

This box set was released in Germany.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden

LUDVIG IN SWEDISH TV PROGRAM

Ludvig will be interviewed on the TV program '45 minuter' tomorrow (Tuesday 30 September) at 20.00 on TV3. The subject is 'being a child of a celebrity'.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robin Andersson reporting from Stockholm, Sweden

CHESS CONCERT FOR TORONTO!!!

Attached is a press release about our upcoming Toronto production of Chess in Concert. Perhaps you could include this on your site in case any of your viewers might be interested in attending.

If you want any more information, please feel free to contact me.

Merle Garbe
Encore Entertainment
Local: 416-733-0558
Pager: 416-614-5519
Toll-Free: 1-888-749-5553
E-Mail: merlegarbe@rogers.com
Wireless E-Mail: merle@mobile.rogers.com
Website: www.encoreshows.com

Encore Entertainment For Immediate Release
85 Mintwood Drive
Toronto, Ontario M2M 3A6
Tel: 416-733-0558
Fax: 416-222-0495


ENCORE ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS CHESS IN CONCERT
Playing at the St. Lawrence Centre October 10 & 11, 2003


Toronto, August 24, 2003 - Encore Entertainment will be presenting a concert version of the rarely-performed musical, Chess, at the Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre, 27 Front St. E., from October 10 to 11, 2003. Evening performances on October 10 and 11 begin at 8:00 p.m., and a matinee on Saturday, October 11 begins at 2:00 p.m.

The magnificent musical score was composed in the 1980’s by former ABBA members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, with lyrics by Tim Rice, best known for collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Elton John on such shows as Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Lion King. Chess was first released as a "concept album" and was met with great success due to hit songs such as "One Night in Bangkok", "Heaven Help My Heart", and "I Know Him So Well". The musical, set against the backdrop of the Cold War, uses the game of chess as a metaphor for the political game-playing that was taking place between the Soviets and the Americans. According to the show’s producer, Merle Garbe, “This music is vibrant and passionate and we are very proud to be presenting this outstanding score performed by such a talented group of singers.”

Tickets are $25.00 and $30.00, with discounts for groups of 20 or more. Tickets can be purchased by calling 416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754, or they can be ordered online at www.stlc.com .

Encore Entertainment is a not-for-profit theatre company, now in its seventh season, that has produced such shows as The Diary of Anne Frank, Enter Laughing, Love and Other Stresses, Guys & Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Anne of Green Gables, Beau Jest, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Fantasticks, Jest A Second, Rumors, Nunsense, On Golden Pond, Les Belles Soeurs, and The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Deathtrap and Come Blow Your Horn. Later in October, they will be producing the romantic comedy Crossing Delancey, followed in February by The Second Time Around, and a musical revue in May called A Fiddler, A Phantom and 3 Singing Cats. For more information, please visit the Encore website at www.encoreshows.com.

Visit our Web Site at: www.encoreshows.com

ANOTHER CHESS PRODUCTION FOR USA

And just a little more U.S. CHESS news,

CHESS will be playing at Triple Threat Performing Arts Center in Cherry Hill, New Jersey in February 2004. I'm not sure of the exact dates. They were changing around on the website and have now been removed but I'm assured it will go ahead.

Their website is at http://www.triplethreat.net and if anyone's interested in auditioning (!!), keep the 15th and 16th November free. Prepare a song showing vocal range (The Sound Of Silence?) and be prepared to dance! Apparently, a Russian accent is a plus!!

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ice Warrior, Dominic Wallis, London, UK

KARIN IN CONCERT PICS

I've also added some photos to my Yahoo album from seeing Karin Glenmark in concert... this was in Århus, Denmark on 23 August, and was a concert organised by Danish Radio. Karin was performing alongside Stig Rossen (of Danish Chess fame), Sanne Salomonsen and Tommy Körberg as part of the 10th anniversary of this annual concert, it being a mixture of the different performers from over the years (the B & B concert being one from a few years ago).

Karin and Tommy performed 'You & I' and 'Mountain Duet', while the orchestra and choir did 'Merano' and Stig Rossen performed 'Anthem' and Tommy K 'Anthem'. The final part of the concert in the second act was a mini B & B concert featuring Karin, Tommy, Stig and Sanne, and they performed 'Does Your Mother Know', 'On & On & On', 'Dancing Queen', 'Take A Chance On Me' and 'Thank You For The Music'.

There were also other performers one of whom was Sebastian, who once sang with Frida on Danish TV in 1982.

Karin was sounding and looking great and was really getting into the ABBA songs, while Tommy added another variation to his various hairstyles when he wore his hair in a ponytail...

My (not that good) pictures are at:

http://photos.yahoo.com/alice_whiting

while there are some other, better photos on a site at:

http://rossen01.homestead.com/stig.html

http://rossen01.homestead.com/tommy.html

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's London Agent Paul Carter, London, UK

JEFFIE'S CHARTS

The ABB GOLD CD nose dives on the US catalogue chart to #22 as does the ABB GOLD DVD in its 2nd week to #31. (Josh Groban, of the Broadway one-off benefit of Chess has an "In Concert" DVD at #19.)

In Sweden, the ABBA GOLD DVD also drops to #3 (behind Kiss and Cher) but the CD hangs tough at #35. The Definitive Collection DVD also hangs in there at #12.

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Mr. Music Industry, Jeffrey de Hart, Stockholm, Sweden

FRIDA CLIP ON DIGGILOO

Frida featured in Swedish TV's quiz show Diggiloo yet again tonight:

The Frida clip in Diggiloo tonight was from "Den stora utflykten eller Vem har snott midsommarkransen?" from 1971. Broadcast June 25th , 1971. This midsummershow also included the two duets, Vi vet allt men nästan inget and En kväll om sommarn.

The second clip tonight with Frida was from "När stenkakan slog" from November 1970. The somg was Kalle på spången. This was a series of four programs and Frida took part in all four, singing Min Soldat, Det är att älska i vårens and other old time Swedish favourites.

Thanks to ABBAMAILers Jeffrey de Hart and Frank Axelsson, Stockholm, Sweden

NEW GERMAN COVER CD PLANNED

News from Intermezzo at: http://home.t-online.de/home/r.grafunder/ehome.htm

A CD with the working title "Mamma Mia - Die schönsten ABBA-Songs in deutscher Sprache" (THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ABBA SONGS IN THE GERMAN LANGUAGE) is planned to be released in Germany in November 2003:

1. Mamma Mia - Annika Bruhns
2. Hasta Mañana - Andreas Bieber
3. S.O.S. - Uwe Kröger
4. Nur Sieger steh'n im Licht (The Winner Takes It All) - Maricel
5. Ich war zu lang allein (The Day Before You Came) - Nico Gaik
6. Ich leb' im Traum (I Have A Dream) - Andreas Bieber
7. Waterloo - Annika Bruhns
8. Money, Money, Money - Maricel
9. Ich brauch' deine Liebe (Andante, Andante) - Andreas Bieber
10. Sing, wenn du mal traurig bist (Bang-A-Boomerang) - Nico Gaik
11. Fernando - Annika Bruhns
12. Ich sah deine Tränen (One Of Us) - Maricel
13. Ring, Ring - Andreas Bieber
14. Danke für die Lieder (Thank You For The Music) - Uwe Kröger

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

DEANO'S CHART POSITIONS - W/C 19TH SEPTEMBER

Here are the chart positions for week beginning 19 September 2003.

Australia: The Definitive Collection DVD is up 5 to #30.
Germany: With over 20 new entries and re-entries you'd think The Definitive Collection would be off, since it was at #97, but no, it shoots up 15 places
to land at #82.
Germany: ABBA GOLD is one of over 20 entries on the chart and comes back in at #64.
USA: ABBA GOLD is down 3 to #8
Australia: The Definitive Collection CD is down 8 to #30.
UK: ABBA GOLD is off the chart.
Australia: ABBA GOLD is a new entry on the DVD chart at #20.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

GOLD BONUS DISC DETAILS

Just seen on the official site, further details of the ABBA GOLD releases:
ABBA GOLD in new packages

Special Edition 2CD Best Of and Deluxe Sound + Vision!
September 25, 2003

Hot on the heels of the release of ABBA GOLD on DVD comes new packages of ABBA GOLD on CD and DVD.

First up is the double-CD ABBA GOLD Special Edition. The first disc in this package is the regular ABBA GOLD CD, while the second is a 10-track
bonus disc. ABBA GOLD Special Edition is part of a series of releases from Universal Music. Artists featured include Bob Marley, The Cranberries, Suzanne Vega, Marvin Gaye, Def Leppard, Dire Straits, INXS and The Cure. The format is the same for all artists: a Greatest Hits collection plus a bonus disc of up to ten tracks.

ABBA GOLD Special Edition will be released in the end of September, catalogue number: 981 197-5. Consult your local record dealer to find out when ABBA GOLD Special Edition will be available in your country.

Track listing on the bonus disc:
1. Summer Night City
2. Angeleyes
3. The Day Before You Came
4. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
5. So Long
6. Honey, Honey
7. The Visitors
8. Ring Ring
9. When I Kissed The Teacher
10. The Way Old Friends Do

The second release is entitled ABBA GOLD - Deluxe Sound + Vision. This package consists of three discs: the CD albums ABBA GOLD and More ABBA
GOLD, plus the ABBA GOLD DVD. The package comes in a DVD-sized digipack housed in a slipcase, also containing an extensive, full-colour booklet.

ABBA GOLD - Deluxe Sound + Vision will be released October 20, catalogue number: 981 003-9. Consult your local record dealer to find out when ABBA GOLD - Deluxe Sound + Vision will be available in your country.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis, London, UK

LEX GETS NEW ABBA GOLD BONUS EDITION

Due to the fact that I work in a CD Store, and can pre-order new releases, I recieved the new 'ABBA GOLD' with Bonus CD today.

What can I say about it that rocks your world?

The Bonus CD looks exactly like the 10th Anniversary GOLD Disc, the same colour, the same layout.

When you flap open the jewel case, the inlay is of course gold coloured and gives the tracklist to the Bonus CD. The booklet is the same as the 10th Anniversary GOLD edition, no new words on the fact that this release comes with a Bonus CD.

The black banner on the cover of the disc with "2XCD Special Edition Bonus CD" is infact a removable sticker on the side of the jewelcase, it is not
printed on the booklet as you might think when you look at the pictures on the ABBA Site. My version of the CD has the sticker stuck on the other way around, '2X' starting from the top.

On the back of the cover, the tracklist to the ABBA GOLD CD has moved a little to the top, to make room for the tracklist to the Bonus CD.

Thanks to ABBAMAILER Lex Corbach, The Netherlands

PRESS RELEASE - MAMMA MIA! IN NEW ZEALAND

MAMMA MIA! To Play in The Civic
Friday, 19 September 2003, 9:54 am
Press Release: The Edge

MAMMA MIA! To Play in The Civic

THE EDGE® has secured the hit musical MAMMA MIA! for a season at The Civic from March 2004.

The Civic will be the only New Zealand venue in which the production will be staged.

"We are thrilled that MAMMA MIA! will be coming to The Civic," says THE EDGE® chief executive Greg Innes.

"This is the biggest musical to come to Auckland since Les Miserables in 1998. MAMMA MIA! features a touring company of 60 and a local staff of a
further 40 people."

THE EDGE® has been involved in the presentation of numerous large musicals at The Civic and the Aotea Centre including Phantom of the Opera and two
seasons of Les Miserables.

"We expect about 40 per cent of the audience for MAMMA MIA! will come from outside Auckland resulting in significant economic benefits to central
Auckland businesses, especially hotels, restaurants and other tourism related retailers," Mr Innes says.

MAMMA MIA! has been a huge hit all over the world. Set in the present-day on a small mythical Greek island, the show interweaves 22 ABBA songs into a
tale of a mother and her soon-to-be-wed daughter. Songs include "Mamma Mia", "Money, Money, Money", and "Dancing Queen".

Tickets for MAMMA MIA! go on sale for group bookings tomorrow and on general public sale on 17 November. Details are available from Ticketek phone (09) 307-5000.

Thanks to our UK ABBAMAIL Correspondent Paul Carter, London, UK

FIRST HAND: JORGE AT THE NEW YORK CHESS BENEFIT CONCERT

The following is Jorge Kong's report on the Actor's Fund of America Chess benefit that he wrote for Ron Miskoff's ABBA-Day mailing list.

Jorge also has some pictures that he has shared with the ABBA-Day list, but I'm not sure how to pass them on so you can view them.

If they end up on a site where they can be viewed I'll let you know. Perhaps one of you has a site and can post them for all to see? If so, I can ask Jorge if that's okay.

Thanks very much to Jorge for sharing this with us!

ABBAMAILer Jeffrey de Hart in Stockholm, Sweden

-----

Milo (my partner) and I got all dressed up and headed for the New Amsterdam Theatre (where the Lion King is playing) to see The Actor’s Fund of America benefit performance of Chess. We arrived around 7:00 PM. There was a huge line to go in. One of the first things we noticed was an ABBA fan holding a large camera standing near the entrance of the theatre. He caught Milo’s attention because he was wearing a red Super Trouper/ABBA band around his t-shirt. He looked great and I was happy to see an ABBA related scene so early on.

I was surprised, as many others, at the amount of time we had to wait to get in. I heard several people complaining about Lara Fabian not being in the
show. There were no celebrities in the crowd. I suspected there wouldn’t be, because the people who purchased $2,500 tickets were invited to a
pre-performance VIP cocktail party, which I think took place backstage. I must have asked everyone who worked there for a Press Kit, but they were
unable to provide me with such. They offered to mail one to me.

Once inside I became a bit anxious. I looked around everywhere to see if Björn and Benny or maybe Frida were there. But my butterflies ended when I realised that none of them were there. Or, so I thought……

Catherine Cook (Executive Producer of the event) introduced the show. She did not mention B & B or Tim, but did say that in her opinion, Chess was one
of the best scores written in the last fifty years.

It was a very big production (big choir and orchestra) and the stage was very simple. All it had was a tilted Chessboard/floor in the middle that
reminded me the London production when I saw it in 1988.

Adam Pascal played Freddie; Julia Murney played Florence; Josh Groban played Anatoly; Molokov was played by Norm Lewis; Jonathan Dokuchitz played Walter de Courcey; Raul Esparza played The Arbiter; and Svetlana was played by Sutton Foster.

It was not just a concert, there were scenes with spoken dialogues between songs to complete the story. It felt like one was seeing the play, but
without the sets. I was happily surprised at that fact, since I was just expecting the songs.

What I am about to say is simply my subjective impression of the show. I am sure all of the cast worked extremely hard to prepare in such a short period of time for just one performance, and overall I have to say they all did a good job.

Josh Groban sounded great playing Anatoly. “Anthem” and his parts in “You and I” were beautifully sang. He has an outstanding voice, very appropriate
for the role. Adam Pascal playing Freddie was a bit of a disappointment. His performance of “One Night in Bangkok” and “Pity the Child” were fair.
Julia Murney’s acting was very good. “I Know Him So Well” was OK. Sutton Foster singing “Someone Else’s Story” was good. She sang a version of “You and I” when she meets Anatoly in Bankog for the first time. I thought this was a good addition to the story. The “Just Like That” melody part of
“Until that day, my life had been a river following a safe pre-destinated course……model that he styled” was used a couple of times.

Overall, it was a good performance. (I am biased having seen Chess På Svenska not so long ago….those Swedish voices!). The best part for me was that during intermission, I spotted Björn and I could not believe he was there. He was talking on and off to a pompous older man and Catherine Cooke. When I talked to him, I reminded him of the time I bought him a drink in Stockholm! He said nothing is certain about doing Chess again in America. I asked, “Would you mind if we take a picture together?” He said, “no” and got closer to me and smiled as Milo focused. Bjorn said, “quickly!” as Milo was taking a bit and I think Bjorn could see the theatre staff approaching. I said to Milo, “Hurry!”. The flash went off, and the pompous older man Björn was previously talking to pulled Björn away from me. Then the theatre staff approached me and reminded me that no photographs were allowed at all times. There were no photographers around and I had not seen a flash until Milo’s went off with my camera.

I looked at the photograph result in case I had to ask for a better one. Fortunately it was good! As I looked up I could not believe there was Benny
talking to the same older man and hugging Catherine Cook. Milo insisted that I go to him, but he looked unapproachable so I passed right behind him.
I could smell his cologne, it was Lagerfeld (in case anyone needs to know what he wears).

At the end of the show everyone started taking pictures. I did as well. Seth Rudetsky brought B & B & Tim up on stage. I could not see if they
returned to their seats or left through the left exit near the stage.

Outside of the theatre, I approached Tim Rice (who was signing autographs and programs practically by himself). I asked him what was the probability
of it coming back to Broadway and he said there is always the possibility. I offered him some suggestions if there is a new version. He thought it was
a good performance.

The post-performance cast party at John’s Pizza was packed. I did not expect to see Benny or Björn there once I realized how packed it was. It
did not seem like they would like being there. If they were there, I missed them. I did not enjoy such a large crowd so Milo and I went to the second
floor where we could see flashes from cameras --- just in case. The flashes were from Grobanites (Josh Groban fans), as they call themselves. Josh
posed for about ten minutes for fans, then he sat at a table with a sweet looking and smiley blond young lady. I approached him then. I complimented
him and he told me he’d definitely be interested in doing the show on Broadway. I told him about Kristina Från Duvemåla since he’d never heard of it. My conversation with Julia Murney was similar. She hadn’t heard of Kristina Från Duvemåla either and said would like to do Chess if brought back to Broadway. As I was going to ask for more information about B & B, the photographers proceeded to line her up for a group picture of Adam, Julia, Josh, and two people I did not recognise.

Milo and I decided to go to the St. Regis Hotel for drinks in case B & B were there. We ate and stayed at the bar until they closed. There were no
signs of B & B. Milo had a great idea --- he suggested that I leave a note for Benny. I asked for stationery and an envelope at the front desk, and
wrote a short letter with my suggestions about Chess to Benny. My suggestions were similar to those I gave to Tim but more in depth. I suggested that “You and I” be used more than once in the show, and as a new love song with lyrics about Florence and Anatoly planning for the future, etc.. I also gave him an idea (something I have been dreaming about for a while). I wrote that he should release a CD with his favorite songs (out of all the songs that he has written since the 60’s). It should be instrumental and Benny should play most of the instruments. Who better than him can do this? I said that it would probably be a fun project for him, and that he would make a lot of admirers very happy. My words at the front desk were, “Could you make sure Benny Andersson gets this. I don’t want to bother him calling him this late”. I think there is a big probability he read it the next morning.

written by Jorge Kong

B & B VISIT MAMMA MIA! REHEARSAL IN NEW YORK

Upcoming Mamma Mia! lead Dee Hoty got a Broadway blessing from ABBA legends Benny and Björn at a recent rehearsal.

Mamma Mia! masterminds Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus popped by to see the new stars of their hit show on September 23 as they continue to rehearse. The creators were in town for the well-attended Chess concert as well as paying a visit to Dee Hoty and the rest of the new Broadway cast that will grace the stage of the Winter Garden Theatre in October.

Pictures and story at:
http://www.broadway.com/template_3.asp?CI=30866&CT=26

I believe there was a problem with the link I posted yesterday for the Chess Concert pictures.
Try: http://www.broadway.com/template_3.asp?CI=30843&CT=26

If these links do not work, both stories and sets of pictures can be accessed from the website link for this story.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis, London, UK

JOSEFIN REJECTS CHESS IN MALMÖ

FROM AFTONBLADET

Josefin turns down "Chess"

Won't move to Malmö

Next year "Chess" moves to Malmö. But Josefin Nilsson won't follow.

- I want to move on and develop, she says.

In June the curtain went down for "Chess" in Stockholm. Next fall the successful musical - as Aftonbladet already has revealed - will be put up in Malmö. All participants in Stockholm have received an offer. But Josefin Nilsson, 34, who played one of the leading roles, turns down the move to Skåne.

- It has been fantastic to give it a try. But now I want to continue doing other things, she says.

Will make a movie

Last summer Tommy Körberg told Aftonbladet that it looks like he'll continue next fall. Now Malmö opera och musikteater (Malmö opera and music theatre) will have to find a replacement for Josefin Nilsson.

- I played in "Chess" for one and a half years and that period has been great, but I want to continue developing, says Josefin Nilsson.

Instead her plans for a solo album will materialize. And next summer a movie production together with Jakob Eklund among others awaits.

- It'll happen around the same time, so I think I'd rather make a movie then.

By Tobias Lindner

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Florida, USA

PICS FROM NEW YORK CHESS BENEFIT

Playbill has uploaded a few photos from the Actors' Fund Chess Concert in New York City and the post-show party. One of the photos shows Björn along with Tim Rice and Josh Groban.

http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/search/3256.html

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/81800.html

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Orlando, Florida, USA

CHESS IN NY: REVIEW

Playbill News:

DIVA TALK SPECIAL: Julia and Josh Dazzle in All-Star Chess

By Andrew Gans
23 Sep 2003

From the moment the two-part black curtain adorned with the Chess logo was pulled down to reveal the evening's stunning set (designed by Paul Weimer), the Actors' Fund of America's benefit concert of the Benny Andersson-Björn Ulvaeus-Tim Rice musical took hold of its audience with full force and didn't let go for two-and-a-half hours.

The evening — directed by Peter Flynn, choreographed by Christopher Gattelli and musical directed by conductor Seth Rudetsky — actually began about five minutes earlier with a short speech from the legendary Barbara Cook, who spoke from the orchestra section of the New Amsterdam Theatre about the importance of the Actors' Fund and how much she loves the Chess score.

The evening, the Tony Award winning Music Man star said, had raised nearly $800,000 for the organization, which helps anyone in need who makes their living working in film, television, music, dance and theatre. Cook said that the Actors' Fund had helped her financially many years ago when "I couldn't pay my rent" and also added, "The caliber of talent involved tonight is nothing less than spectacular. . . Thank you so much for being here. I've looked forward to this for weeks, I'm sure you have. I can hardly wait. Chess, here it comes!"

Chess, which originated as a double LP with a cast headed by Elaine Paige, Murray Head and Tommy Körberg, has seen numerous alterations and stagings: the original London company with Paige, Head and Körberg; a brief Broadway run with Judy Kuhn, Philip Casnoff and the late David Carroll; various U.S. tours, concerts and foreign productions. The Sept.
22 concert, a conglomeration of the show's seven scripts, once again demonstrated the strength of the magnificent Andersson-Ulvaeus-Rice score and showed that, perhaps, the musical works best in a concert setting.

The stage of the New Amsterdam, home of Disney's The Lion King, was completely transformed: a black-and-white, raked chess board jutted slightly over the edge of the stage. The chess board was surrounded by a multi-tiered set that featured the full orchestra on both sides of the stage; above the orchestra were two more levels full of singers.

Raúl Esparza, as the Arbiter, began the evening, announcing the upcoming world chess championship between the Russian Grandmaster, Anatoly Sergievsky and his American opponent, Freddie Trumper. The orchestra and the wonderful 52-member choir then launched into the Rodgers-and Hammersteinesque "Merano." Adam Pascal, oozing his usual charisma, made an energetic entrance, as the score took on its rockish sound. In great voice, Pascal riffed, "What a scene, what a joy, a lovely sight, when my game is the big sensation!"

Throughout the evening, members of the chorus offered brief introductions to the scenes. The second song — "Anatoly and Molokov" — featured Anatoly (Josh Groban) and Alexander Molokov, head of the Russian delegation (Norm Lewis). Both Groban and Lewis possess two of the richest, fullest tones of any male singers around. I've long been a fan of Lewis' rounded sound, but had never heard the sensational voice of Groban, who followed their brief duet with a sensational "Where I Want to Be." Groban's baritone is so beautiful and soothing, it must be heard to be fully appreciated. And, it's hard to believe that this 22-year-old performer has no professional musical theatre experience;
simply dressed in a white shirt with black jacket and pants, he commanded the stage surprisingly well.

The third scene — set in the Arbiter's chambers and surrounding rooms — began with the "Diplomats" singing, "No one can deny that these are difficult times. It's the U.S. versus U.S.S.R. . . . " Watching this scene, I realized how the now-ended Cold War between America and Russia almost seems like a quaint period, compared to the world of terrorist
actions and threats that are now part of our post-9/11 lives. Raul Esparza, then took — no, seized — the stage to deliver "The Arbiter."

Esparza is one of the most confident performers around and made one of the score's less exciting songs a show-stopper; the ensemble followed with "Hymn" and "Merchandisers."

A blonde Julia Murney (as Florence Vassey, the American's second and lover) — who looked striking in a black, off-the-shoulder dress — arrived on stage and joined Molokov, The Arbiter and Anatoly for the quartet "A Model of Decorum and Tranquility." The sound of the four singers' voices blending in the song's final verses was breathtaking, and a rapturous applause followed. (Chess fans may want to know that Freddy was a "nut" rather than a "fruit" in this version of
"Decorum and Tranquility.") Florence and Molokov then proceeded with the argument-in-melody, "Florence and Molokov," where Florence revealed the traumas of her youth: a Hungarian, whose mother, father and homeland were taken from her as a child.

After Florence and Freddie battled in "1956 — Budapest Is Rising," Murney then launched into a sensational "Nobody's Side." Murney's voice can best be described as part silk and part steel. There is a beauty to her head tones that almost belies the power of her vibrato-filled, rangy belt. After Murney finished her final "Nobody's on nobody's siiiiiiiiiiiiiiide," the audience erupted into one of the evening's lengthiest roars of approval.

The arranged meeting between Florence and the Russian player, Anatoly, led to their beautiful "Mountain Duet." Freddie then burst in on their private moment to offer "Who'd Ever Think It?"

One of the evening's most visually stunning scenes, "Chess Game #1," featured the evening's dancers — on two opposite sides of the chess board — who enacted the first chess match between the American and Russian competitors. As the game progressed, various dancers (chess pieces), knocked each other off the board and danced off the stage until
two bare-chested dancers — one on each team — made the game's final moves. As one fell to the floor, the Russian was named the game's victor and the world champion. "Florence Quits" (Florence and Freddie's second argument) and "A Taste of Pity" (featuring a stunning high note by Pascal) ended this scene.

The Civil Servants sang the comical "Embassy Lament" in the first act's penultimate scene. Act I ended with "Anatoly and the Press" and Groban's soaring "Anthem." Groban's sound filled the theatre as he sang, "How can I leave her? Where would I start? Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart. My land's only borders lie around my heeeaaarrrt!"

The second act began with Chess's most famous song, the pop hit "One Night in Bangkok," featuring Pascal and the ensemble, who danced and tried to seduce the American "who gets his kicks above the waistline." Julia Murney entered, sat on the edge of the chess board stage, and delivered a concentrated "Heaven Help My Heart," complete with vocal
flourishes and a tender ending. Groban then joined Murney for another of Chess' treasures, "You and I."

The Tony-winning Sutton Foster — a last-minute replacement for pop singer Lara Fabian — made her long-awaited entrance as the Russian's beleaguered wife, Svetlana. Dressed in a fiery red dress, she and Groban offered a short reprise of "You and I" before Foster delivered a simple touching "Someone Else's Story." Foster did quite well with the song, although Alice Ripley's stunning version at the 1998 Chess concert — with its unexpected key change — has spoiled me for all other renditions.

The act's fourth scene — set in a television studio — featured "Interview," "Freddie Goes Metal," the reprise of
"Florence Quits" and Pascal's "Pity the Child." The latter, a demanding song that is always a vocal challenge for its interpreters, was handled with ease by Pascal, whose raspy tenor soared on the song's final high notes.

The principal players took part in "The Deal," where an especially belty Foster proved her mettle with a brief reprise of "Where I Want to Be." The hit duet "I Know Him Well" — between Murney and Foster — followed. Though they sang it very well, I have to admit this was the one moment where I missed the voices of Chess stars past, most notably Elaine Paige and Judy Kuhn. Still, this "I Know Him Well" was met with a deserved roar of approval. A second Chess ballet — "Chess Game #2" — and "Endgame" preceded the final scene, which concluded with a spectacular reprise of "Anthem" featuring a teary-eyed Murney centerstage and Groban singing from one of the stage's tiers. The audience rose en masse for a lengthy standing ovation.

After Seth Rudetsky — the musical mastermind behind the three Actors' Fund benefit concerts — thanked those involved, he brought to the stage Chess' creators, Rice, Ulvaeus and Andersson. All in all Chess was a thrilling evening of great singing that makes one anxious for the fourth annual Actors' Fund Benefit Concert. Carrie on, Seth?. . .

(Due to various rights' issues, Chess in concert was not recorded for CD sale.)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis, London, UK

THE Bs WENT TO CHESS IN NEW YORK

Just got word from Jorge on the ABBA Day list that Björn & Benny were at the charity concert of CHESS in New York.

He was able to speak with Björn, Tim, Josh Groban and Julia Murney. Wow!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jeffrey de Hart, Stockholm, Sweden

ABBA GOLD DVD #1 IN SWEDEN AGAIN

The ABBA GOLD DVD is #1 in Sweden for the 2nd week in a row! It debuts at #21 in the USA. The Definitive Collection DVD leaps to #9 in Sweden and ABBA GOLD CD jumps two spots to #31. In the States, the GOLD CD is back at it's very comfortable #11 spot and Mamma Mia! falls to #31.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jeffrey de Hart, Stockholm, Sweden

FIRST REPORT: CHESS charity concert raises US$800,000

First report from Actor's Fund Charity Chess Concert:

The Josh Groban forums are naturally buzzing about his performance as Anatoly and more importantly so are the rather more grown-up and less biased Broadway forums.

Sir Tim Rice was definitely in attendance and joined the performers on stage at curtain call, but so far, no mention of any B's being there.

Apparently slight feedback problems plagued the first half of the show, which, especially considering the price of seats, I would have found rather irritating. The show was a sell out though and most importantly raised something in the region of US$800,000 for the fund.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis, London, UK

FRIDA IN BALI

The Melbourne Sunday Herald Sun reports that Annifird has been on holiday in Bali at the holiday home of former Kangaroos (An Australian Rules Football team) strongman Albert Mantello.

The article goes on to state that Annifrid taught him dance moves after he bought an ABBA CD in Kuta & that he went onto to say " She's a delightful lady and great company" .

I need to point out that the Melbourne Herald Sun is notorious for both "stretching the truth" and "inventing the truth"

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Chris Naqvi, Melbourne, Australia

UPDATE TO STORY by Paul Carter in London:

Re. the story about Frida being in Bali as reported by the Melbourne Herald Sun - I e-mailed the place that she stayed on the offchance that they would give me some info, and this is the reply I received:

"Yes, we confirm Anni-Frid stayed with our family at our private Villa in Bali."

You can see where she stayed at:
www.mantelloholdings.com.au

CHESS IN BOURNEMOUTH

CHESS in Concert at Bournemouth with the BSO

October 26th only

Bournemouth International Centre
Exeter Road, Bournemouth BH2 5BH

Tickets: 01202 456456

After the huge success of Les Miserables last year the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is again collaborating with stars from London’s West End for an evening of CHESS in Concert – the great smash-hit musical by Tim Rice, Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus.

This production, which has seen many names in lights since its first performance at the Prince Edward Theatre, London in 1986 will continue this tradition with another fantastic line up, including Olivier Award Nominee Rebecca Thornhill, Olivier Award Winner Josefina Gabrielle as well as Chris Holland, David Bardsley, Nicholas Pound and local Bournemouth star Earl Carpenter.

CHESS in Concert at Bournemouth with the BSO

October 26th

Bournemouth International Centre
Exeter Road, Bournemouth BH2 5BH

Tickets: 01202 456456

Thanks to Mal Mitchell, United Kingdom

CHESS PA SVENSKA DVD

The Swedish production of 'CHESS', as you know, is to be released on DVD.

It will be coded as DVD Region 2.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Orlando, Florida

ABBA REFERENCES ON SWEDISH TV SHOW

Well, too bad there wasn't a tape running on tonight's Diggiloo. There were lots of ABBA and ABBA related references.

They had one segment with three questions on how everybody has a connection to everybody in the Swedish music business, one of them was Benny and of course included Frida, Björn & Agentha as well as Stikkan, Anders & Karin
Glenmark and Lena Andersson. Mostly photos of the "ABBAs" but also a clip of a Frida duet for a few seconds. And a clip of a quite young Tommy Körberg.

And two of the guests, Sanne Nielsen and Glen from Brandsta City Släckers did a duet singing Does Your Mother Know. Interesting, but strange really. Gladys del Pilar was one of the other guests.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jeffrey de Hart, Stockholm, Sweden

GOSSIP MAG SAYS KYLIE FOR CHESS

According to the UK's 'Now' magazine, this week, Tim Rice and Kylie Minogue have been talking. I'm sure this story has surfaced before but here's the article in its entirety.

The article reads

'Kylie to star in pawn movie.'

"Lyricist Sir Tim Rice is planning to turn his hit musical CHESS into a blockbuster movie. While his old writing partner Lord Lloyd Webber has spent over 10 years trying to get his film Phantom of the Opera off the ground, Tim obviously thought he'd get himself a slice of the celluloid action. What's more, he's considering pop princess Kylie Minogue for one of the leading roles.

The pair recently met in Paris to discuss the script and Kylie, who seems to have put her acting career on hold, is said to be very enthusiastic about the project.

Sir Tim joined forces with Benny and Björn from ABBA to write the musical, which was a huge hit on the West End stage in the 80's. It tells the story of a chess tournament set against the back-drop of the Cold War, in which an American and Russian player battle it out for the World championship and the affections of the same women - a part Sir Tim hopes Kylie will like. Admittedly it doesn't sound like the most thrilling of plots but the show was a huge box office success the first
time around and with films such as Chicago proving that musicals can still draw big audiences, CHESS the movie could be a smash.

We last saw Kylie on screen as the fairy in Moulin Rouge, but she's still waiting for lead-role success in the movies. Maybe this could be it?"

'Now' magazine is not truthful journalism taken to the n'th degree but it's not the worst of them!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis, London, UK

BENNY'S DREAM HOME

ABBA-Benny's got his dream home: Builds a new life

Benny Andersson has built one more home for himself and Mona Nörklit. Now SE&HÖR can show picture of the house just outside Lund, where he brings up horses.

Usually Benny Andersson, 56, and his Mona Nörklit, 60, lives in a fashionable house at Djurgården in Stockholm.

But the well-known musician has more refuges around the country.

Among others he some years ago built a house in Lund in Skåne. Where he now breed harness racing horses.

And it's from the luxourious house these pictures come from. The house has grown to become over 200 square metres big. From the balcony you see Lund's university.

But Benny's intrests and hobbys don't stop at music and horse breeding.

Recently he was one of the people behind the restauration of Rival in Stockholm, that nowadays is a luxurious hotel, cinema, conference centre, restaurant, coktail bar and bakery.

Benny - musician, animal friend, and future proprietor. All in one.

By Lars Johansson

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden

SPECIAL GOLD EDITION RELEASE DATES IN SWEDEN

- ABBA Gold CD Special Edition - 29 September 2003
- ABBA Gold Box (Gold + More Gold + DVD); 20 October 2003

Thanks to Pop Import and ABBAMAIL star reporter Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden

UPDATE ON DAN/FRIDA SINGLE AVAILABILITY

From www.abba-news.de:

According to a post of Jeffrey de Hart on ABBAMAIL's Latest News Page, my organisation had said that the Frida/Dan Charity Single wouldl only be available trough ABBA Remember (abba-news.de). However that is not true.

We had never mentioned that the single will ONLY be available through our service, but we did say that the first 500 copie of the single will be exclusively available through www.abba-news.de

Of course the single will also be available on Dan Daniell's website and through several other ABBA clubs & services. However we have been promised the first 500 copies (and possibly more if demand is high).

Manu
www.abba-news.de

CHESS PRELIMINARY CAST LIST

According to Duvemala.tk this information was in Kvällsposten (I can't say how true this is, but just for the record, here goes what was posted there):

Anatolij: Tommy Körberg/ Anders Ekborg
Florence: Helen Sjöholm/ Maria Rydberg (Sjöholm spring 2005)
Freddie: Anders Ekborg/ Christopher Wolter
Svetlana: Anki Albertsson
Molokov: Jan Malmsjö/ Per Myberg
Domaren: Fredrik Dolk/ Rolf Skoglund

"Chess premières at Malmö Opera in the middle of September next year"

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden

FRIDA & DAN: THE PLOT THICKENS

Well, I got the new ABBF magazine today and it's really great to see the Aftonbladet picture of Agnetha on the cover full size and on glossy paper. Kudos to Helga & Anita for securing the photo. There's an awesome shot of
Frida on the back cover as well.

Although there are many interesting things to report there's one that I'll mention now. That is that the Dan Daniell CD with Frida will be not be an item sold exclusively through abba-news.de, but will also be available through Dan's website. Since the mag went to print, Dan told Helga that he will make the CD available to all fans that want it. I don't think anyone posted the blurb that was posted on the fan club's website last week based on their conversation. Here it is.

-----

9 September 2003 Charity single with Frida

Because we only received approval today to publish the following we weren't able to include it in our September magazine as that's already being printed at the moment.

Dan Daniell will release a CD single with three songs, two of which are duets with Frida. The single will contain the songs "Lieber Gott", "I Have A Dream" and "Am Himmel stoht es Stärnli". The first song is a kind of prayer and, of course, you know "I Have A Dream". Frida sings with Dan on those two tracks. Dan Daniell is an artist from Switzerland and a friend of Frida's.

Frida wanted to help Dan with his career and she volunteered to record these songs together with him. They were recorded in May and the CD single will be released by a small Swiss company. The profits will go to the charity "Child
in War".

It's too early to say more about the sale of the single, but Dan promised to help us and all ABBA fans get their own copy. He will soon discuss with Frida further issues relating to the project, but he assured us he would let us know more about the CD in the future.

-----

Separately, I have heard through the grapevine some other things about the project. I've no idea if it is true or not as it has not been confirmed with Dan. It is conflicting information which makes me unsure what to believe, as rumours often prove!

Apparantly Frida doesn't want to have any connection to the project other than providing her support for Dan. So it's strange, then, to hear that she doesn't want any credit or will not participate in any promotion but at the same time that she will show up for a charity concert with Dan. He is supposedly performing in Zürich in December with other artists. And it seems like the recordings themselves don't "feature" Frida or are even duets, only that she might sing a little in the background and that she begins reciting the prayer in Swedish for the Lieber Gott song.

Hmmm, maybe not so exciting after all, but still a curious project!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jeffrey de Hart, Stockholm, Sweden

FRIDA'S BOYFRIEND DOES COVER FOR SINGLE

According to the latest news on http://www.abba-news.de the single cover to
Frida's new charity single will be made by the friend and 'man' of Frida's - Heinz Julen. It was with him she attended Polar Music Prize this year.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden

HANT EXTRA TRANSLATION - LUDWIG'S WEDDING

Wedding-happiness for ABBA-Benny:

Daddy was proud like a cock when Ludvig married Lisa

ABBA-Benny's youngest son Ludvig has got married!

On Saturday the 30th of August the 21 year old Ludvig stepped up the altar path in Gustaf Adolfskyrka with his beautiful bride Lisa Östberg, 26 years old.

The proud bridegroom smiled with his whole face when he said 'I do' to his pretty Lisa.

The couple was honoured with choir singing by Ludvig's and Lisa's singing colleagues from the Chess-choir.

- It was absolutely amazing! When our colleagues from the 'Chess-choir' sang
it was like a fire in my body, newly married Ludvig told Aftonbladet.

After the marriage cermony all friends and family members went to traditional Villa Pauli at Djursholm just outside Stockholm.

There a fantastic party was held, which was ended the morning after.

Of course Ludvig's dad Benny Andersson and his mother Mona Nörklit was there
and celebrated their son and their new daughter-in-law...

- Yes, me and Lisa ran away a bit earlier, but the last ones went at 7, half past 7 in the morning, Ludvig tells.

Ludvig and Lisa has been a couple for one year and a half. They were engaged one year ago romantic in the Riviera.

The young couple met through their joint job at Cirkus in Stockholm.

- I sing in the choir and Lisa both dances and sings. It's so fun, Ludvig told Hänt Extra earlier.

By Malin Annell

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ace Swedish Reporter, Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden

US / SWEDISH CHARTS

In the USA ABBA GOLD slides one notch to #8 in its 322 week of the Top Pop
Catalogue Albums chart dated September 20, one week after its all-time peak of #7, the highest any ABBA album has ever charted in the USA.

The Mamma Mia! cast recording drops to #26 from #24 in its 58th week on the
same chart.

Seems like both might be due for recertification before too much longer, ABBA GOLD still at six times platinum and Mamma Mia! at gold.

In Sweden the really exciting news is that the ABBA GOLD DVD debuts at #1 on
the Hitlistan chart and the GOLD CD re-enters the album chart at #33! The
Definitive Collection DVD even moves up a notch to #14.

Per Myberg, Tomas & Ted are still hanging tough as well.

Below are highlights of the Swedish charts.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jeffrey de Hart, Stockholm, Sweden

-----

HITLISTAN, Vecka 37, 12 september 2003

För Ant
Nr plac veck Artist Titel

DVD ALBUM
1 NY 1 ABBA ABBA GOLD - GREATEST HITS
14 15 51 ABBA DEFINITIVE COLLECTION

SINGLAR
17 3 11 PER GESSLE HÄR KOMMER ALLA KÄNSLORNA (PÅ EN OCH SAMMA GÅNG)

ALBUM
3 1 12 PER GESSLE MAZARIN
5 4 16 CAROLA GULD PLATINA & PASSION - DET BÄSTA
33 ÅT 71 ABBA ABBA GOLD- GREATEST HITS
44 54 13 PER MYRBERG SOMMARNATT PER MYRBERG SJUNGER TAUBE
49 33 14 TOMAS LEDIN I SOMMARNATTENS LJUS
55 47 43 TED GÄRDESTAD DROPPAR AV SOLREGN
59 44 21 GLENMARK ERIKSSON STRÖMSTEDT DEN ANDRA SKIVAN

NOT REALLY A FRIDA RARITY

A trip to Stockholm is not complete without a visit to Rainbow Music. In the Frda section was a 12" single from Mauro Scocco, "Vem är han?" (Who is he?). There was a sticker on the front proclaiming that Frida was on it.

We thought it was a bit strange. The single was from 1988, a year after she had done "Så länge vi har varann"/"As Long As I Have You" with Mauro and Ratata. I was sure we would have heard of her doing it. Fellow shopper and ABBAMAILer, Gustav, checked with the shop owner who said that you could quite clearly hear Frida and that she was only on the 12" version of the song.

It wasn't too expensive so I thought I'd take the risk even though I had a sneaking suspicion what it would be. And it turned out I was right.

Towards the end of the 12" version, they mixed in a couple of lines of Frida singing from "Så länge vi har varann". A sample, if you like. So, a bit of a rip-off but still something a little different for the collection.

Checking www.scocco.net I see that the 12" version has never been released on
CD but the 7" version is on both his first album and his "Hits" album.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Grant Whittingham, Stockholm, Sweden

GOLD DVD RELEASED IN OZ

Well, ABBA GOLD on DVD was released in Australia yesterday, September 15th.

I picked up a copy at HMV Pitt Street Mall this morning. The HMV guy says "this looks new".

The documentary thing is interesting. It's probably more interesting than any of the interview segments in The Winner Takes It All, but maybe that's because Björn and Micke are talking about specific songs and events most of the time, instead of just general history stuff. Typically, Björn has no idea of years, saying that People Need Love "was 71, something like that".

Oddly, the local version doesn't have the advertisement for Mamma Mia! and the ABBA catalogue of CDs and DVDs on the inside of the cover - it's just blank. How
dull! They could have at least printed it black then, or used a black case, instead of blank white paper and a clear case.

The Lay All Your Love On Me clip is even more dull than I remember. I don't think I've watched it more than twice since getting the ABBA GOLD VHS in the early nineties. Dancing Queen 92 is just as hideous as ever. I doubt that digital remastering would have helped. And to think, it's all my fault that it's there (see Carl Magnus Palm.com) ! ;-)

I like the menu, except that because of the odd number of songs, the final screen (not counting the Bonus tracks) only has three songs. But I guess it's hard to split 19 songs to something almost even. Not quite the same as The Definitive Collection, as I'd been expecting from what everyone has been saying. Same concept, different look.

Well, there we go. Another item for the collection. It will be interesting to see how it goes in the chart here next week, since *this* week The Definitive Collection DVD has popped back into the Top 40.

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ian Cole, Sydney Australia

CHESS DVD - TWO DISCS!

The DVD for Chess på svenska will be on TWO discs, which enormously increases the potential for extras!!!

I found further information here:

https://www.dvdsverige.com/P_showitem.asp?itemid=SYDVDChess

and the slightly higher price of SEK 195.

Also:

I have been wondering for weeks whether Mono Music's site was ever going
to mention the wonderful SACD version.

Finally, it appears to have, er, appeared...

http://www.monomusic.se/chessSVskiva.html

with a link to the SACD homesite.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis, London, UK

MORE CHESS IN THE USA

Another CHESS performance, this time in Los Angeles.

>From press release....

CHESS in LA

CHESS will start a 7-week run at the Knightsbridge Theatre in Los Angeles, November 1st, 2003.

Directed by Tiger Reel (2001 Director of the Year - Pasadena Weekly, and director of the recent anti-war adaptation of "Henry V"), with Musical Direction by Bill Newlin (Musical Director for Knightsbridge's
critically lauded production of Stephen Sondheim's "Assassins") and Choreography by Jennifer Copaken (Assistant Choreographer for Julie Taymor's "The Lion King") this rarely-performed pop-opera from the
lyricist of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and one-half of the pop supergroup ABBA follows the political and romantic machinations that take place at a World Chess Championship between the Soviet and American Champions at the height of Reagan-era Cold War tensions.

Featuring a 35-member cast, CHESS boasts some of the most admired choral music in the history of musical theatre as well as the Top 40 hits "One Night in Bangkok" and "I Know Him So Well". Featured in the large cast are Knightsbridge Company members Harmony Goodman as Florence, Joe Thomas as Anatoly, Jamil Chokachi as Freddie, Don Schlossman as Molokov, Jarod Scott as the Arbiter and Amanda Karr as Svetlana.

CHESS will run November 1st through December 14th on Saturdays at 5pm and Sundays at 3pm at the Knightsbridge Theatre 1944 Riverside Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90039. For reservations or more information call 323.667.0955. And check www.knightsbridgetheatre.com in the coming weeks for interviews, reviews and other CHESS-related material.

CHESS in NEW YORK
ABBAMAILer Paul Carter recently advised that there is a rumour that Benny may attend. There is also a rumour that the concert will be recorded. This rumour, I believe, is something to do with the fact that the particular production team for the CHESS concert is the same as that for the Dreamgirls Actor's Fund Concert a few years ago - and that one WAS recorded and released.

I am a huge Josh Groban fan, so this potentially sounds like a dream come true. I suspect though, that it may just remain a dream!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis London, UK

READERS DIGEST BOX SET BACK FROM THE DEAD!

Just when you thought hysteria about reissues and repackaging had reached an all time high, here's news of a new reissue that'll set the chattering masses off again:

To coincide with the 30th anniversary of ABBA winning Eurovision, Reader's Digest will be re-releasing their 4 CD ABBA box set. The new title will be 'ABBA - The Ultimate Collection'.

This collection has been available in many countries since 1993. Last year in Australia it managed to "go gold" (i.e. sales had passed 35,000 copies). It contains 80 songs, each disc being loosely themed (fast songs/love songs/disco songs/ballads) and in a sort of vaguely chronological order within each disc.

The track listing should remain unchanged - see below for the track listing of the original release. There will be new liner notes by our favourite ABBA guru Carl Magnus Palm. The packaging may be redesigned.

This collection will only be available from Reader's Digest. It will *not* be available in shops. The release date will vary from country to country, and it will not be released everywhere - e.g. it won't be available in the US or Canada. No news yet on any release dates.

Track listing:
Disc 1: Waterloo; Ring Ring; Honey, Honey; Bang-A-Boomerang; I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do; When I Kissed The Teacher; Mamma Mia; Dum Dum Diddle; King Kong Song; My Mama Said; Money, Money, Money; Hey, Hey Helen; As Good As New; Angeleyes; Nina, Pretty Ballerina; Elaine; The Piper; Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough); The Way Old Friends Do; SOS; Hasta Mañana; The Visitors; Intermezzo no. 1

Disc 2: Gonna Sing You My Lovesong; Take A Chance On Me; My Love, My Life; Andante, Andante; I've Been Waiting For You; Lay All Your Love On Me; One Man, One Woman; Kisses Of Fire; Like An Angel Passing Through My Room; Knowing Me, Knowing You; The Name Of The Game; Move On; Our Last Summer; One Of Us; The Winner Takes It All; The Day Before You Came; When All Is Said And Done; I Wonder (Departure)

Disc 3: Dancing Queen; Summer Night City; Dance (While The Music Still Goes On); Does Your Mother Know; If It Wasn't For The Nights; Watch Out; Voulez-Vous; He Is Your Brother; Hole In Your Soul; Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight); Rock Me; So Long; That's Me; Lovelight; Why Did It Have To Be Me; Tiger; People Need Love; On And On And On; Head Over Heels; Under Attack

Disc 4: Fernando; I Let The Music Speak; Chiquitita; Eagle; Arrival; Another Town, Another Train; I Have A Dream; Tropical Loveland; I'm A Marionette; Super Trouper; The King Has Lost His Crown; Slipping Through My Fingers; Soldiers; Soldiers; What About Livingstone; Sitting In The Palmtree; Suzy-Hang-Around; Two For The Price Of One; Happy New Year; Thank You For The Music

For some weird reason, I've quite liked this collection since I got it a few years ago. It's pretty fun and funky with it's approximate theming and its inclusion of some lesser known tracks. Not essential if you've got everything, but a good primer if you don't.

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ian Cole Sydney Australia

CHARTS

Not much to report this week, just 4 placings (known), but one piece of excellent news, which will hopefully put something of a smile on some faces. (We need it)

USA: ABBA GOLD is up 6 places to its new highest position of #7.!!

Germany: The Definitive Collection is down 11 to #88
Australia: The Definitive Collection is up 5 to #18
UK: ABBA GOLD is down 12 to #57.

That's all. The Definitive Collection DVD is off the charts in Australia. Mamma Mia! hasn't reappeared in the pop catalogue top 20 in the USA, 20th Century Masters seems to have done its dash in Canada, and the Definitive Collection seems to have had its run in the Netherlands.

Still, not bad for a group that took a break over 20 years ago, and has been charting CONSTANTLY, at least since I arrived in August 2000, and probably since May 1999, when ABBA GOLD recharted.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Newlands, Wellington, New Zealand

EVA DAHLGREN / BENNY IN NEW YORK?

Eva Dahlgren was mentioned on UK Channel 4 news this evening, and part of her singing 'Ung och stolt' was broadcast, as she sang at Sergels torg in Stockholm this afternoon at a remembrance service held after the shocking murder of Anna Lindh. You just don't imagine these kind of things to happen in Stockholm, least of all in the broad daylight in NK.

And according to this post www.abbasite.com/forum/thread.php?t=10643, Benny,
Mona and probably Görel were in New York on 6 September, and saw the Performance of Mamma Mia! that night.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

LARA FABIAN OUT OF CHESS CHARITY CONCERT

It would appear that Lara Fabian will now NOT be appearing alongside Josh Groban, Adam Pascal et al at the CHESS Benefit concert for the Actors' Fund in New York.

Her place will be taken by Sutton Foster.

Article from http://www.broadway.com

Tony Award winner Sutton Foster will take the place of pop star Lara Fabian as Svetlana Sergievsky in the upcoming Actors' Fund benefit performance of Chess. She joins fellow leads Josh Groban, Julia Murney, Adam Pascal, Jonathan Dokuchitz, Raul Esparza and Norm Lewis in the concert performance.

Foster won the 2002 Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and Astaire Award for her performance as the title character in Thoroughly Modern Millie. She also appeared on Broadway in Les
Misérables, Annie, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Grease!. Foster participated in last year's Actors' Fund benefit concert of Funny Girl, singing "I'm the Greatest Star."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis London, UK

CHESS DVD RELEASE DATE

Skivhugget are now listing the Chess på svenska DVD for pre-order. You can see the cover there.

The release date is 12 November 2003 and the special price is only 188 SEK (US$23.50 / 19.79 Euro). Considering how expensive DVDs are in Sweden, this is a good price. Don't forget that if shipping outside the European Union, a further 20% is taken off the price.

No word on the features / extras. It would be nice if they had English sub-titles since they must realise the interest amongst fans around the world.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Grant Whittingham, Stockholm, Sweden

ABBA GOLD DVD HITS USA

The ABBA Gold DVD has finally hit the USA!

I was very happy to find that Tower Records had at least 25 of them. It was on sale for $16.99.

On the inside back cover where it shows pics of all the 8 CDs and the two other DVDs it shows a picture of the ABBA GOLD CD with the new and correct logo font. But all of the US CDs still use the original crappy font that it was first released with.

I'd love Universal to repackage the ABBA GOLD CD in the USA with the correct ABBA logo!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Pepe, California, USA

'GOLD' BOX

Further to the news tipped here on ABBAMAIL first about the new ABBA GOLD
box, below is a press release from Universal about the box series.

You will read in the release the idea did not originate in Sweden. I can also assure you that there will be nothing new in this box that you don't already have - if you have the ABBA GOLD CD, MORE ABBA GOLD CD and ABBA GOLD DVD - except, of course, new liner notes by Carl Magnus Palm. However, those are abbreviated notes.

So, for those who don't yet have the DVD, maybe this would be a nice way to
get it!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jeffrey de Hart, Stockholm Sweden

=====================

UNIVERSAL MUSIC INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES MAJOR NEW CATALOGUE PRODUCT LINES

New offerings underpinned by detailed international market research study

LONDON, 8 SEPTEMBER, 2003 - A series of new innovative music product lines, underpinned by in-depth market research, are being launched by Universal Music International from mid-September 2003 onwards. The audio / video products feature key Universal artists including ABBA, Jimi Hendrix, Bob
Marley, Marvin Gaye, Mötley Crüe and The Cure.

The new product lines, commencing with the launch of 2xCD Special Edition
Best Of's and Deluxe Sound + Vision, are the culmination of a detailed
qualitative market research study, surveying music consumers in Europe's
three largest music markets: the UK, France and Germany. The study,
conducted during March 2003 by RPM Research, set out to investigate consumer motivation to buy back catalogue, gauge reactions to several proposed new catalogue concepts and identify preferences in terms of artists, content and packaging.

Bert Cloeckaert, Senior VP, Strategic Marketing & Commercial Affairs said,
"It is no secret that the already highly competitive music catalogue market
is coming under increasing pressure at retail from other entertainment
products like DVD and videogames. To address this, we have adopted an
extensive FMCG, research-led approach to our new catalogue products - a
rarely utilised tactic for music marketing.

Julian Huntly, VP, Catalogue Marketing added, "We know the calibre of our
key catalogue artists isn't in question, but we felt there was scope for
improving the way they are packaged and marketed. Rather than making
assumptions about product development based on previous successes, our
research has given us an excellent understanding of what does and doesn't
appeal to music fans. This has allowed us to refine our new product lines
and leave nothing to chance, which in turn increases retailer confidence in
a crowded marketplace."

The new product offerings comprise:

2xCD Special Edition Best Ofs
Offering excellent value for money alongside exclusive content in some
cases, 2xCD Special Edition Best Of releases are expanded 'greatest hits'
albums containing two CD's - the original 'best of' album and a bonus CD
featuring up to ten additional tracks ranging from additional hit songs to live or acoustic performances. These albums are packaged in a standard 2CD
'Brilliant' box.

Scheduled for release from 22 September, 2003, 2xCD Special Edition Best Of
albums centre on top selling, proven greatest hits releases from artists
including Bob Marley, The Cranberries, Suzanne Vega, Marvin Gaye, Def
Leppard, Dire Straits, INXS, The Cure and ABBA. The suggested retail price
is £15.99 in the UK and Euro19.99 - Euro21.99 in Europe.

Deluxe Sound + Vision
A unique, high quality product spanning two CDs and a bonus DVD, Deluxe
Sound + Vision releases provide an in-depth overview of a classic artist's
career. Up to forty of the artists' best known songs on a two-CD anthology
are complemented by a DVD featuring promotional videos and live performances, interactive menus, a biography, a discography with tracklists
and web links.

Deluxe Sound + Vision releases are packaged in a DVD-sized digipack housed
in a slipcase, also containing an extensive, full-colour booklet containing a biography, discography, lyrics and photos.

The first Deluxe Sound + Vision products are set for international release
from 20 October, 2003, at a suggested retail price of £24.99 in the UK and
Euro32.99 - Euro34.99 in Europe. Initial offerings including ABBA's Gold, Bob
Marley's Legend, Jimi Hendrix's Blue Wild Angel - Live At The Isle Of Wight,
Mötley Crüe's Loud As F@*k and INXS' The Years.

Further new products, drawing on the research findings, are in development
and are expected to launch throughout 2004.

- ENDS -

Note to Editors:
Universal Music International

Universal Music International is a division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 71 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's largest global music publishing operations.

Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Record Company,
Deutsche Grammophon, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music
Group, Lost Highway Records, MCA Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Philips, Polydor, Universal Records, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company
subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most
extensive catalogue of music in the industry, which is marketed through two
distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Strategic
Marketing & Commercial Affairs (outside the US).

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi Universal, a global media and
communications company.

ABBA WORLD HAS MOVED!!!

ABBA World has a new URL - and a new server!

You may recall that up to May last year it had the URL abbaworld.net.
Unfortunately, registration had lapsed and a cyber-squatter had jumped in on the very day that I went to re-register it.

I'll be updating the site soon with new material, and eventually will be revamping the whole site.

Could anyone with links to ABBA World on their own site please update their
links? Please feel free to use the banner on the "link me" page. Ditto if you've got it bookmarked. Much appreciated.

Ian Cole, Sydney Australia

www.abba-world.net

MALMÖ CRISIS COULD AFFECT CHESS

Malmöoperan gets a new management

The crisis-affected Malmö-opera and musical theatre gets a new management.

But not more money. That was clear after yesterday's committee appointment.

The new management, that will have to deal with a deficit of SEK15million,
doesn't rule out that it might be on the cards to give notice to the employees.

How the changes will affect 'Chess', that is being staged next autumn, isn't clear yet.

Stefan Sköld resigns from his job as MD and artistic leader and is replaced by two people.

Written by Björn Solfors

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden

BENNY FURIOUS AT SWEDISH TV & RADIO

Here is an article from Expressen:

The artists STIM-riot (Stim is the Swedish musicians organisation ­like RIAA / Linda’s note)

SVT ­ (Swedish National Television) and Sveriges Radio (Swedish National Radio)­ want to pay less money for airing music. The news has upset the Swedish music elite.

- Stim-money is some artist’s only source of income, says Benny Andersson. A lot of music creators are not singers or artist at the same time, but just creators.

Timbuktu, Robyn and Tomas Ledin. All of them are risking lesser money in their wallets. SVT, Sveriges Radio and UR (Education Radio) have, through their employers organisation SRAO, cancelled their deal with STIM because they want to negociate a better deal.

- We are trying to cut costs everywhere. If we don’t take meassurements we will have a negative balance of SEK90million in 2005, says Tomas Roxström, controller at Sveriges Radio. And there is money to be saved.

Last year SRAO payed SEK85million to Stim. But the risk of leaving less money for the artists has caused protest.

- It sucks! They're already not paying enough money to the artists, says the songwriter Alexander Bard.

The composer Benny Andersson says that it is a question of principles.
- It is as important for me as for others. For me it’s big money. But it’s important anyway, if you see what I mean. It is what the creators live off.

The hip-hopper Petter agrees.
- Now, when the record sales have dropped so dramatically, radio airings become an important part in the possibility for a lot of artists to survive i