Mamma Mia! The Hartford Symphony Orchestra will bring the solid gold hits of 70's musical superstars ABBA to life at ABBAMANIA! on Friday, July 10, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Simsbury Meadows. Led by Hartt School Wind Ensemble Director Glen Adsit, the HSO will team up with the four members of the internationally acclaimed ABBA tribute band ABBAMANIA to play ABBA's greatest hits out under the stars at Simsbury Meadows.
Since the recent release of the movie Mamma Mia, ABBA's popularity has soared to new heights. The HSO's show will satisfy even the most avid ABBA fan as it recreates the look and sound of ABBA with dazzling costumes and powerful vocals. With the Hartford Symphony Orchestra playing back-up, ABBAMANIA will cover ABBA's most popular songs, including Dancing Queen, Fernando, and Waterloo. HSO Executive Director Kristen Phillips says, "This is a unique opportunity to hear ABBA's greatest hits fully orchestrated by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra – an experience that can't be captured on radio or recordings."
Says guest conductor Glen Adsit, "I am thrilled to conduct the Hartford Symphony this summer at the Talcott Mountain Music Festival. From the baby boomers through to the youth of today, ABBA still strikes a common chord and will have everyone dancing on the lawn."
In ABBAMANIA's lead role of Anni-Frid, Monica Tietz is a professional singer who hails from Penetang, Canada. Ms. Tietz is an excellent drummer and played drums and sang lead in "Bounty," "Jagged Little Pill," and the theatre show called "The Spice Girls," a musical tribute to the Spice Girls. She also does studio session work for Canadian radio commercials.
Born in Hanover, Canada, Mathew Whale plays Benny in ABBAMANIA. After studying music at the Toronto Conservatory, Mr. Whale played keyboard in the musical productions of Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, and Pink Floyd. He does a lot of studio session work and is rated as one of the best pop pianists in Canada.
A native of Toronto, Canada, Andrea Pressburger graduated from the University of Windsor with a degree in Musical Theatre. She has toured the world on cruise ships, performed in a number of Canadian theatre shows, and done extensive radio and television commercials. Ms. Pressburger plays Agnetha in ABBAMANIA.
Born in Bridge, England, Nick Pattison now lives in Ajax, Canada where he teaches music and performs as Bjorn in ABBAMANIA. Mr. Pattison has been in a variety of productions, including everything from night club acts to funk, rock, country, and blues bands and theatre shows. He has an arts degree from Queens University and an American Guild of Music Award for guitar.
Glen Adsit is associate director of the Instrumental Studies Division and the Director of Bands at The Hartt School, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Contemporary Players Ensemble, teaches undergraduate conducting, and guides all aspects of the graduate wind conducting degrees. His professional conducting includes many concerts with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and a series of educational concerts with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to his professional orchestral experience, he also conducted the University of Michigan All-State Intermediate Orchestra for seven years at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. -- www.hartfordsymphony.org
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