Thank You for the Music, a BBC Radio 2 event (broadcast live, with a television recording to follow soon), was subtitled "A celebration of the music of Abba" and was in effect one big karaoke evening, but that is in no way to diminish it. Each performer sang one of Sweden’s best export’s hits and the audience played their part, singing along word perfect to every number - even to the lesser known ones, such as those from the musical Chess. The event was introduced by Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans (bewigged and dressed in what looked like a Bacofoil '70s retro homage suit) and he kept things flowing smoothly.
Most fans had turned up early to have a picnic and were determined not to let the chilly and windy conditions spoil their fun. They were an interesting mix of gay and straight couples and multi-generational families; three generations of one - aged from five and 60 - stood in front of me, and the group of family and friends I was part of ranged from 13 to 70 years old. How many bands past or present could attract such an audience?
Lulu was first on with "Gimme Gimme Gimme". She and The Feeling, who followed her and sang "Knowing Me, Knowing You", acquitted themselves well, but one was instantly reminded that Abba’s output, perfect pop songs though they are, are a devil to perform. They often have a near two-octave range, are mostly written for the female voice and have all sorts of difficult hooks and key changes.
It had to be, then, that sooner or later someone wouldn’t be up to the task and Nerina Pallot (not the only performer whose introduction was met with a "Who?") struggled with "The Name of the Game". But she was given a chance to redeem herself later in the evening when she filled in for the indisposed Sharleen Spiteri on "SOS" and thankfully made a very decent job of it.
"SOS" was introduced by Stellan Skarsgard, who appeared in the 2008 film version of the Abba stage musical Mamma Mia! Mercifully, though, this wasn’t a charity benefit kind of night where everyone gets to do their bit and show how wunnerful they are for supporting the cause; instead he told us the background to a couple of songs and introduced a rather touching segment of Swedish folk music and an orchestral piece.
In truth, some of the audience treated this part of the show as an interval and visited the beer tent or the loo, but they missed a treat. Andersson played accordion with Swedish folk group the Orsa Players and then the BBC Concert Orchestra (led by Cynthia Fleming) and Capital Voices (under the direction of Annie Skates) performed Andersson/Ulvaeus’s haunting work Rowing on the Serpentine. The evening was under the musical direction of long-time Abba collaborator Anders Eljas, who was once part of their backing band; they performed here for the first time in 10 years.
Other stars, including Jason Donovan ("I Have a Dream"), Elaine Paige and Siobhan McCarthy ("I Know Him so Well") and VV Brown ("Ring Ring") performed with verve, and Beth Nielsen Chapman was the unexpected hit of the night for many with a touching "Slipping Through my Fingers" and a belting "Fernando".
Then on came Kylie Minogue to sing "Super Trouper" and give the evening a bit of fairydust sparkle. When she sang the exquisite "When All is Said and Done" with the Benny Andersson Trio, with Andersson at the piano, she said it was a dream come true. Cue fireworks and the end to a fabulous evening.
Mamma Mia! the musical, The Benny Andersson Band downloads
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