Music

Music capital Stockholm is hotter than ever

Stockholm is strengthening its position as one of the world's leading centers of music. During the course of the year the city will host two of the greatest events in the music world, the Eurovision Song Contest (May 13) and the MTV Europe Music Awards (November 16). The music scene in Stockholm has produced and inspired artists for many years and a number of group's launch their world tours in Stockholm.

It all began with ABBA, the first Swedish group to achieve international success in the 1970s. ABBA proved that it was possible to export Swedish pop music abroad. With big-selling Swedish groups such as ABBA, Europe, Roxette, Ace of Base, Robyn and the Cardigans, Sweden is the third largest exporter of music today after the US and Great Britain. Swedish music industry exports amount to SEK 3.3 billion a year and 90 per cent of the Swedish music industry is located in Stockholm.

Fashionable, vibrant Stockholm
Stockholm has become something of a music hub in Scandinavia, being home to video producers such as Jonas Åkerlund, the Internet music seller Boxman and EMA Telstar, the largest event producer in Scandinavia. There are approximately 40 recording studios in Stockholm, including the renowned Cheiron studios where Max Martin produces recordings for global stars such as Britney Spears. Fashionable Stockholm attracts artists from the whole world. To name a recent example, Back Street Boys produced their latest release in Stockholm.

European pop at the Stockholm Globe Arena
Sweden will host the Eurovision Song Contest for the fourth time. Broadcast on television from Stockholm and the Globe Arena on May 13, this year's contest will feature the largest live audience ever, with around 12,000 people in attendance. More than 100 million television viewers in Europe, Japan and Australia will follow the event, which will offer sizzling musical entertainment and pictures of fashionable Stockholm. Charlotte Nilsson won the 1999 contest in Jerusalem with her song "Take me to your Heaven". Previous Swedish winners of this largest pop music contest in Europe include the now legendary group ABBA, who won the contest in 1974 with their song "Waterloo". Ten years later, Herreys danced their way to first prize with "Diggi Loo Diggi-Ley", and in 1991 Carola won the contest with the number "Fångad av en stormvind".
On November 16, a younger audience will get the chance to meet the most prominent artists of the pop music world in the MTV Europe Music Awards. MTV viewers themselves vote each year for their favorite artists. This year the music awards will be handed out in Stockholm and at the Globe Arena and will be attended by the largest force of international artists ever seen in Stockholm.
www.eurosong2000.com

Musical events in Stockholm, summer 2000

Stockholm offers a wealth of musical and theatrical events. One popular pastime is to enjoy concerts, opera and theatre performed in concerts held in settings typical of the period in which the music was originally performed. Stockholm's amusement parks and gardens feature performances by many popular Swedish and internationally renowned artists throughout the summer. For more information, please see the "events" heading at www.stockholmtown.com

Palace festival at Ulriksdal Palace
Ulriksdal Palace, located just north of Hagaparken and set in a beautiful park with a waterside setting, will hold a royal palace gala from June 13-17. Classical music, jazz and favorites from musicals will be performed by famous names, for example, Monserrat Caballé will perform in a Verdi Gala, there will be a Tribute to Frank Sinatra and a Musical Night with Tommy Körberg and the West End Theatre Orchestra.

Opera at Drottningholm
Drottningholm Palace is a 17th century baroque palace included in UNESCO's world heritage list. Its Palace Theatre is the oldest 18th century theatre in the world still preserved in its original form. The theatre will stage opera performances this summer. From 30 June to 2 September, Mozart's Così Fan Tutte and Händel's Tamerlao will be performed.

Music at the Palace
Around 20 concerts featuring classical music will be held between June 27 and September 4 at the Inre Borggården, in the Rikssalen, in Slottskyrkan church and at the Antikmuseum. Program highlights include: Barbara Hendricks, soprano and Staffan Scheja, piano on 10 August, and Kalle Esperian soprano, Doris Soffel, mezzo-soprano, Mats Liljefors Conductor, St. Petersburg Hermitage Orchestra on August 17.

Stockholm International Jazz & Blues Festival July 19-23
World-renowned artists and groups from Sweden and abroad are coming to Stockholm in July to appear in the Stockholm International Jazz & Blues Festival. With five days of jazz, blues, soul, and Latin, the festival attracts a larger audience each year.

Rock & pop

Pearl Jam, June 28
Pearl Jam has visited Sweden several times. In 1992 they played at Melody, and in August 1995 they opened for Neil Young at the Sjöhistoriska Museet. Tickets available March 6.
Arranged by: EMA Telstar, +46 (0)8-457 02 20 http://www.ema.se 

Iron Maiden + Special Guest Halford, June 27
Following on the success of last year's tour, Iron Maiden is embarking on a new world tour, "Metal 2000". The aim of the tour is for the group to perform for more people around the world than anyone else has ever managed before. Arranged by EMA Telstar, +46 (0)8-457 02 20 http://www.ema.se 

B. B. King, July 2
The blues legend visits Stockholm. Arranged by Gröna Lunds Tivoli, +46 (0)8-587 501 00

Tom Jones - Summer Tour, July 7
After having performed at the Stockholm Globe Arena in April, Tom Jones returns to Sweden on his summer tour. http://www.skansen.se 

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