Many were dressed in sequins, satin panties and wedge boots and had traveled across the Atlantic to buy tickets for several parties. Roxanne Dixon said, wearing a white satin tunic with gold trimming and glittering A-and B earrings, that she has been a fan of the band since 1975. Caleb Graham (33), from Florida said that they came all the way to America and it was worthwhile. He and his companion wore matching black ABBA T shirts.
Yesterday was the curtain call that everyone had been waiting for! pic.twitter.com/g2hyId48VC
Concert takes place in a 3,000-seat theatre specially built for this purpose. It features four “ABBAtars”, broadcasting in holograms. The group performs hits from the 1970s, 1980s, and songs that were released last year when the septuagenarians gathered to record “Voyage”.
ThisisABBAVoyage pic.twitter.com/6kGQ2zu1TU
If we are indeed hearing the voices of AnniFrid, Bjorn and Benny (acronym “ABBA”), then their digital avatars will represent the members with their faces from 1979.
The audience at the ABBA Arena is made up of both children and those who have been around the band since its peak. Jordan Charlesworth, 27, a public-health worker, said, “It’s amazing that ABBA attracts people of all walks of life, and of all ages.” He wore a sequined jumpsuit.
Sarah Armstrong, dressed in swirling yellow pants and a smiley face, said that the concert was “almost the soundtrack to my life.” She attended the concert along with her sister, daughter, and friend. The ambitious spectacle is scheduled to take place seven days a week from early October. According to The Times, ABBA must recoup PS140m (EUR165m), to pay the costs.
The avatars are amazing, I’m not sure what you’ve seen but we were on the dance floor and you couldn’t tell that it wasn’t people, there were a couple of moments on the large screens where you could tellBut the technology is Amazing pic.twitter.com/MzMJRpbc9C
Bjorn Ulvaeus (77), a member, stated ahead of the premiere that “I know this to be one of the boldest acts anyone has done in the music business.” The show lasts for an hour and a quarter, with twelve musicians accompanying the avatars. This new show, which “resurrects” dead artists after previous mixed experiences, has been praised by critics.
The holograms were created over a long period of time in collaboration with an effects company that George Lucas founded. To reproduce the movements on stage, the septuagenarians’ movements were captured in the studio.
The Times wrote that this time, there was “nothing maelstrom,” The Guardian stated that the digital effects are a success and the effect is truly amazing. Fans said that they felt as though they were witnessing a live performance. Dawn Waugh, 63 and her 26-year old daughter attended the event. Dawn said, “It was amazing, it was so immersive, I really felt as if I was there.”
