By admin 
Introduction
For those of us who came of age with the shimmering melodies and infectious rhythms of ABBA, their return to the spotlight—not as a conventional reunion tour, but as something entirely new—felt like a wonderful dream. And yet, this isn’t just a nostalgic flicker; it’s a monumental achievement in entertainment technology and a powerful testament to the timeless quality of their music. The announcement of ABBA‘s Voyage album and the spectacular, purpose-built show in London instantly captured the imagination of millions around the globe, drawing in original fans and introducing a new generation to the magic of Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid.
The journey to bring Voyage to the custom-built ABBA Arena in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park was a saga eight years in the making, demanding an unparalleled fusion of artistry, technology, and sheer ambition. This wasn’t merely a concert; it was a grand, theatrical experience designed to blur the line between the physical and the digital. The core of this groundbreaking spectacle lies in the creation of the ‘ABBAtars’—the detailed, realistic digital representations of the group as they appeared in their 1979 prime. To achieve this level of verisimilitude, the four members, now in their seventies, spent five weeks in a motion-capture studio. Wearing special suits, they performed a 22-song set while surrounded by 160 cameras, capturing every gesture, every movement, and every nuance of their performance. This raw data became the foundation upon which Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the visual effects powerhouse famous for Star Wars and countless blockbusters, built the digital performers. It was a massive undertaking, with approximately 1,000 visual artists working on the project, making it ILM’s first significant foray into the music industry.
The technical complexity is staggering, yet the beauty of the final product is how effortlessly the illusion works. When you take your seat in the ABBA Arena, you aren’t watching a simple projection. Instead, you witness four life-sized, uncannily real ‘performers’ on stage, backed by a live ten-piece band. The illusion is maintained using advanced LED screens and a modern take on the 19th-century Pepper’s Ghost technique. A colossal 65-megapixel LED display, over 30 feet high, combined with precise lighting and synchronized effects, creates the stunning, three-dimensional presence of the ABBAtars. The result is a performance that feels immediate, vibrant, and utterly alive. It’s an immersive, 360-degree concert where the technology fades into the background, leaving only the joy of the music.
The show, titled “VOYAGE,” isn’t just a technical masterpiece; it is a profoundly emotional experience. It’s a chance for fans to connect with the band’s material in a way that had seemed impossible. Björn, Agnetha, Benny, and Anni-Frid carefully curated a setlist of their greatest, most beloved hits, alongside material from the Voyage album. The concert is a masterclass in pacing, energy, and spectacle, delivering the powerful, melodic pop that defined a generation. The fact that the four members of ABBA—despite not being physically on stage—have created the exact concert they always wanted to give their fans is a touching detail that resonates deeply. They are, in essence, performing for us at their very best, forever young and eternally vibrant.
The commitment to this project speaks volumes about the group’s dedication to their legacy and their fans. This venture required not only the immense technological investment—reportedly budgeted at over $175 million—but also the construction of a bespoke, collapsible arena capable of housing this unique spectacle. The design of the arena itself, with its thoughtful use of cross-laminated timber and a beautiful larch exterior, reflects an intentional focus on both functionality and environmental consideration, allowing the venue to potentially travel to other locations in the future. Everything, from the acoustically perfect sound system (featuring nearly 300 speakers) to the intricate kinetic lighting design, was engineered to ensure an unrivaled, multi-sensory live experience. The true genius of Voyage is not just that they brought ABBA back, but that they did so in a manner that honors their music while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of live entertainment. This is the ultimate “making of” story, one where the final product is a dazzling fusion of human emotion and digital innovation. The title of the documentary chronicling this effort—”ABBA – VOYAGE – The Making of the NEW Show at the Arena London for 2022 – The Journey Continues 4K“—perfectly encapsulates the scale and significance of this magnificent achievement. For anyone who cherishes the golden age of pop music, this show is more than a novelty; it is a required pilgrimage.