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SEBASTIAN BOGDANIK FOTOREPORTAŻ
Events 2023 July 1, 2023

ABBA and Queen on the Wadowice Market Square: Orchestral, with Dance and Fire

ABBA & QUEEN Orkiestrowo, Wadowice, 1 July 2023: choir, orchestra, dancers and fire on a stage in front of the basilica. Photo story.

Words and photos: Sebastian Bogdanik

The stage in front of the basilica on the Wadowice market square after dark.
The stage in front of the basilica on the Wadowice market square after dark.

On 1 July 2023 the market square in Wadowice became an open-air concert hall. As part of the “Muzyczne Wadowice” (Musical Wadowice) series, young artists of the Meloarte Association staged “ABBA & QUEEN Orkiestrowo”: the hits of two legendary bands in symphonic arrangements, with a choir, soloists, dancers and an electric guitar.

A stage beneath the basilica

The stage stood on John Paul II Square, right in front of the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where Karol Wojtyła, the future Pope John Paul II, was baptised in 1920. The show was due to start at 8 pm, while the sun was still lighting up the houses, and admission was free. The organisers promised an hour-long performance with 40 artists on stage.

Before the concert: the stage beneath the tower of the Basilica of the Presentation, the orchestra taking its seats.
Before the concert: the stage beneath the tower of the Basilica of the Presentation, the orchestra taking its seats.
The Meloarte choir and strings, still in daylight.
The Meloarte choir and strings, still in daylight.

Dance in the spotlight

Dance accompanied the music all evening. Among those at the front of the stage were dancers from Studio Finezz Wadowice: leaps, acrobatics and lifts, with red dresses against the grey town houses looking like a living poster.

Dancers in red at the front of the stage.
Dancers in red at the front of the stage.
A leap above the stage, with the market-square houses behind.
A soloist with the choir behind her.
A leap above the stage, and a soloist with the choir behind her.
The whole stage: singers, orchestra and a guitar waiting for its turn.
The whole stage: singers, orchestra and a guitar waiting for its turn.
A dancer lifted above the heads of the others.
And higher still.
The lift: a dancer travels above the heads of the others.

As dusk falls

At around 8:40 pm the sun slipped behind the rooftops and the stage lights took over. Violet, blue and green changed the mood from one song to the next, from ballads to rock. The announced programme included ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”, Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “We Are the Champions” and “The Show Must Go On”, as well as music from the film “A Star Is Born” and songs by Bruno Mars.

A ballad in violet light.
A guitarist, fully focused.
A ballad in violet light, and a guitarist fully focused.
A handstand in time with the music.
A moment to breathe after the routine.
Acrobatics in time with the music, and a moment to breathe after the routine.
A soloist and the symphony orchestra after dark.
A soloist and the symphony orchestra after dark.
Violins in the orchestra.
A cello in a haze of smoke and light.
Violin and cello: the symphonic heart of the show.

Fire and guitar

After 9 pm columns of fire shot up on stage, while a dancer in red performed acrobatics right next to the flames. The special guest’s electric guitar gave the orchestra a rock edge, and the singers carried the crowd along ever more boldly.

A column of fire beside a dancer.
A backbend against the flames.
Columns of fire beside a dancer.
An electric guitar and a Queen T-shirt.
A singer in a leather jacket, with the guitar close by.
An electric guitar, and a singer in a leather jacket.
A dance beside the orchestra and the guitar.
A dance beside the orchestra and the guitar.

The finale

At the end everyone came on stage together: choir, soloists, dancers and musicians. I took the last shots of the finale at a quarter to ten, with the square still singing along.

The dancers thank the audience.
The dancers thank the audience.
The finale: everyone on stage, the guitar playing to the very end.
The finale: everyone on stage, the guitar playing to the very end.

Performers: soloists, choir and orchestra of the Meloarte Association
Electric guitar: Sebastian Ruciński
Drums: Wiktor Wyszyński
Dance: dancers of Studio Finezz Wadowice
Styling: Monika Sajdak
Host: Dagmara Książek-Lisicka
Series: Muzyczne Wadowice (Musical Wadowice)

Based on the concert announcements on wadowice.pl and wadowice24.pl.

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