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Music of ABBA
Our first Sensory-Accessible Concerts program of the new year offers a fresh take on the music of Swedish supergroup ABBA, as members of OperAtlantic blend classical artistry with the pulse of pop. Sopranos Suzanne Rigden and Elizabeth Humphries, tenor Glen Nowell, and bass Kurt Sampson join pianist Tara Scott to reimagine familiar songs with warmth and vitality, revealing the emotion and storytelling that make ABBA’s music so timeless. The program moves through some of ABBA’s biggest hits in unexpected and expressive ways. “Take a Chance on Me” bursts with playful momentum, while “Chiquitita” unfolds with tenderness and quiet resilience. “Super Trouper” carries an undercurrent of determination, its brightness edged with strength, and “Knowing Me, Knowing You” lingers on moments of honesty and change. In “The Winner Takes It All,”emotion and poise intertwine, and “Thank You for the Music” becomes a joyful nod to creativity and connection. “Happy New Year” balances reflection with hope, and “Dancing Queen,” always an audience favourite, fills the space with rhythm, warmth, and an energy that’s impossible to resist.
Hosted by pianist Jennifer King and co-presented with Halifax Public Libraries, these concerts run from fall to spring at the Halifax Central Library. Each program is thoughtfully curated and features low lighting, noise-reduction headphones, open spaces to move and dance, a quiet room, and a relaxed atmosphere where attendees are free to move and vocalize. Certified Music Therapist Anna Plaskett along with a team of Music Therapists and movement facilitators from Phin Performing Arts are present to support families in relaxing and enjoying the music together.
Sensory-Accessible Concerts is a free, monthly series offering a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for everyone to enjoy chamber music. Designed with consideration for autistic, neurodivergent, and intellectually disabled community members and their families, as well as seniors experiencing age-related hearing and vision changes, the series welcomes anyone who may find traditional concert environments challenging, yet all are invited to attend!
The Sensory-Accessible Concerts series is made possible through the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the J&W Murphy Foundation, the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, the Harrison McCain Foundation, the Craig Foundation, the Cecilia Concerts Season Sponsor Nice Moves / Red Door Realty, and our presenting partner the Halifax Public Libraries. We appreciate the gifts from the many individual donors who continue to support this important initiative.
