15 years of ABBAphonic: The RPO’s love letter to the music of ABBA Ever since the very first ABBAphonic took place at the Royal Albert Hall in May 2011, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has enjoyed a joyful and exciting journey with the music, evolving the programme over time to highlight different beloved songs, feature star soloists, and find unique ways to connect with audiences through the vibrant and uniting spirit of ABBA.
Recordings of the RPO playing iconic ABBA classics go as far back as the late 1970s as part of various greatest hits and orchestral compilation albums. But it wasn’t until 2010 that the first ABBAphonic album was recorded at Angel Studios in London, shortly followed by the debut performance at the Royal Albert Hall. Over the past decade and a half, the concert has continued to grow in popularity, with the most recent performance attracting a packed audience including many avid ABBA fans who come to each show ready to dance and sing along.
Matthew Freeman has arranged and conducted all of the RPO’s ABBAphonic recordings and performances, and has always found a wealth of inspiration in ABBA’s songwriting and composition:
"ABBA have written songs that are melodically, rhythmically, harmonically and lyrically brilliant. It is a formidable body of work. I’m always amazed at the range and variety of their writing"
Having performed with many of the original ABBA band members, Freeman seeks to highlight the music's original brilliance so that the power and complexity of the songs are truly emphasized when performed by a full symphony orchestra:
"As musical styles change I’ve tried to stay true to those Swedish roots. When arranging ABBA’s songs I aim to add new colours that enrich the music. I’m very mindful not to distract from their essence but with the help of a full symphony orchestra, we add a new dimension and give the audience a fresh experience and perspective... We now have a show that takes the audience through many emotions whilst giving them a party! " ABBAphonic concerts are a party, and perhaps what has made the programme so popular over the years is this sense of collective celebration and fun. And the festivities are shared by all, not just the audience - RPO musicians love to fish out their flares, glitter and sequins to get into the spirit for each concert.
It has been a privilege and a delight to share the unparalleled and timeless songwriting of ABBA with our audiences over the years. We look forward to many more fabulous ABBAphonic concerts!
