TBSO Special — a Symphony of ABBA
By Kyle Poluyko
ABBA, the Swedish pop group formed in 1972, became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of contemporary music, topping global charts for nearly a decade. Movies such as Muriel’s Wedding (1994) and Mamma Mia! (2008), and countless tribute groups and albums have proven the super group’s endearing reach. On March 5, the TBSO will be joined by the platinum selling Finnish a capella ensemble Rajaton in a sonorous and symphonic spectacle of ABBA’s classics.
Rajaton, comprised of Essi Wuorela, Virpi Moskari, Soila Sariola, Hannu Lepola, Ahti Paunu, and Jussi Chydenius was formed in Helsinki in 1997. Since then the group has released 15 different albums and in 2016 they celebrate 19 years in the music industry, continuing to create an astounding a cappella sound long before the current chart-toppers, Pentatonix, emerged on the music scene. The group has cultivated a global fan base, with one double platinum, three platinum, and eight gold records in Finland under their belt. Worldwide, Rajaton’s record sales are drawing near 400,000 copies altogether. Their 2006 album of ABBA hits featuring the Lahti Symphony achieved Number 1 and platinum sales in Finland in less than a month.
Thunder Bay has had a long-standing and special affinity for the music of ABBA, with sold out engagements of acts like ABBA Mania as well as the stage adaptation of the wildly successful and celebrated jukebox musical, Mamma Mia! This TBSO Special Event, conducted by Lucas Waldin, is bound to be another crowd-pleasing concert event because “… somewhere in the crowd there’s you.”
Rajaton joins the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra for The Music of ABBA at the Community Auditorium on Saturday, March 5. For more information visit rajaton.net and tbca.com.
