Expressen/GT 130719
By: Anders Björkman
Gothenburg. What warmth, what playfulness and what joy of playing. Benny Andersson opens his musical embrace.
This is no ordinary concert, this is an evening of song, music, dance and a little show. But the orchestra plays for the people on the dance floor, which they bring and assemble below the stage with colored lights. There are two waltzes, there are two schottis and it’s like in the people’s park when Benny was young.
It’s not just two songs for each dance, it’s music as mixed as one can imagine, from Benny Andersson’s known repertoire, but also an Evert Taube and an Ernst Rolf and other musicians of different denomination. From “Polska efter Byss-Kalle” to a waltz by Sjosta-kovitj.
In this musical candy mix only the pearls get to unfurl; the biggest hits by Abba, like “You are my man,” the song that the audience loves and throws itself into immediately with hands, feet and clear throats.
Neatness counts
It’s a bit of everything and then some, which is Benny Andersson’s idea with these musical evenings. But everything is of the highest quality, no carelessness, because the band consists of 14 top musicians who like to play together.
Two brilliant vocalists
And when the guys set off, there is heavy swinging, no matter the time. I do not pretend that Orsa fiddlers in “Bälter Svens paradpolkett” is hard rock, but it is related.
Then of course, Benny Andersson Band also has two brilliant vocalists, who from time to time come to the microphone. Tommy Körberg with his gravity and power and the lovely Helen Sjöholm who brings new life to every text.
And over it all shines Benny Andersson’s contented smile, whether he stands with the accordion between bouncing fiddlers or sits at the piano and plays when Helen Sjöholm sings.
Take the chance
That’s four hours of music, song and dance – which you have to contribute. But there’s nothing else like this on stage, nothing with so much joy, so take the chance if BAO opens their dance floor near by the coming week.
The concert’s 3 highlights
1 “You are my man” Helen Sjöholm sings a raw version, the entire audience sings along and the dance floor sags.
2 “Tivedshambo” Benny Andersson dust of one of Stig Anderson’s first successes.
3 “O sole mio” Kalle Moraeus steps forward and delivers a classic.