Live premiere of ABBA song “Ode to Freedom” for Ukraine

Benny Andersson performed the ABBA song “Ode To Freedom” together with the Ukrainian string ensemble Kyiv Soloists. It’s the first time the final song from the Voyage album has been performed live – it was chosen to show solidarity with Ukraine and hope for an early end to the senseless war.

Support for Ukraine also comes from ABBA

The Kyiv Soloists performed with ABBA member Benny Andersson on piano, while Eric Ericson’s chamber choir provided vocals on “Ode To Freedom”. On April 2nd from 6.30pm the concert, which had already been recorded on March 27th in the Stockholm Concert Hall, was broadcast on Swedish SVT1.

Kyiv Soloists consists of renowned Ukrainian musicians who have joined forces to represent Ukrainian culture internationally. The artists had just been touring Europe when their home country was attacked by Russia. A support tour was then organized together with several concert halls. The ensemble has now been awarded the title of “Global Ambassadors of Ukrainian Culture” by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the concert, the musicians played, among other things, classical Ukrainian music, folk music and an interpretation of the Swedish song “Varmeland du sköna”. The proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Ukraine with the help of Swedish Radio Aid.

The King and Queen of Sweden were also in the audience

Also King Carl XVI. Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden were present at the concert. The king summed up the appalling situation in Ukraine at a public meeting at the beginning of March: “Europe is in an extremely difficult situation. It hasn’t been this difficult in a long time. Russia invaded Ukraine. This violates international law and overrides fundamental freedoms and rights. The humanitarian catastrophe is a fact. People are fleeing their homes and their land. Families are separated. Innocent people die.”

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