Russell Watson is to appear in a one-off concert version of Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus’s popular Swedish musical Kristina at the Royal Albert Hall on 14 April.
Kristina, by the former ABBA stars and writers of Chess, tells the story of one woman and her family’s struggle in Sweden and their subsequent emigration to America in search of a better life.
The Swedish-language musical premiered in Sweden in 1995, with Swedish musical theatre star Helen Sjoholm in the title role. Sjoholm returns to the role for this UK premiere of Kristina with English lyrics by Les Misérables lyricist Herbert Kretzmer.
Watson, who plays Karl, is a hugely successful recording artist whose nine albums have earned him four Classical Brit Awards.
Watson and Sjoholm are joined by Broadway regulars Louise Pitre and Kevin Odekirk in this concert performance, which first played at New York’s Carnegie Hall last year. They are accompanied by a 50-piece symphony orchestra.
CB