Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA are still collaborating, creating success musicals such as Chess and Mama Mia (soon to open in L.A.!). The production of Swedish music videos has also reached prominence, e.g. through Jonas Åkerlund's videos for Madonna and Metallica, etc.
Swedish music is also about folk music, classical music, jazz and avant-garde. The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Gothenburg Symphonic Orchestra are all internationally acclaimed. Esa-Pekka Salonen was brought from Stockholm to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Polar Music Prize, is the Nobel Prize of music. Since 1992, two prominent, internationally well-recognized musical artists have been awarded every year in May at a prize ceremony in Stockholm. In 2000, Bob Dylan and Isaac Stern were awarded, and received the prize from his Royal Highness the King of Sweden.
To learn more about current Swedish music and music festivals, please visit the websites to the right.