Swedes in the News

Swedes in the News [ ] Generous Gestures and Entertainment News

Danny delivers

When Swedish pop sensation Danny Saucedo, 34, was forced to cancel his highly anticipated concert in Globen Arena in Stockholm due to the coronavirus, he chose to perform in the Arena anyway – in front of approximately 16,000 empty seats.

The concert, which featured Saucedo and fellow musician Mattias Andréasson at the piano, was a great success when it was live-streamed on Saucedo’ social media and on Swedish daily news outlet Aftonbladet’s website. In between songs, Saucedo gave thanks to all the medical staff working non-stop to care for those affected by the virus. Saucedo, who hopes to perform in front of an audience in Globen this summer, said appearing in front of empty seats was much fun and a completely new experience.

Hagströmer gives thanks In an effort to support the Swedish restaurant and healthcare industry during the worldwide pandemic, Swedish business executive Sven Hagströmer, born in Stockholm in 1943, has purchased 500 portions of food from Swedish chef and restaurateur Pontus Frithiof and donated it to healthcare personnel at Karolinska University Hospital in the Stockholm suburbs of Solna and Huddinge. Hagströmer is well-known as the founder of Swedish Avanza Bank and investment company Creades. He has also initiated numerous non-profit organizations and engaged in various social projects. Apart from honoring Sweden’s medical staff, Hagström is working hard to get hospital supplies delivered from China to Sweden.

Sven Hagströmer

Funny Swede takes Netflix Swedish stand-up comedian and actor David Batra, 47, is the first Swedish comedian to get a stand-up special on American media service provider Netflix. Elefanten i rummet premiered at Rival Theater in Stockholm in September 2017, and

David Batra. Photo: Robert Eldrim

the special – recorded in Globen, Stockholm – is now available on Netflix. In the funny stand-up show (in Swedish with English subtitles) Batra discusses what it is like being married to the former Moderate Party leader Anna Kinberg Batra.

Caliphate by Kapetanović

Another Swedish production recently released on Netflix is the celebrated 2020 Swedish thriller drama TV series Kalifat (Caliphate) directed by Swedish/ Bosnian Guldbagge awardwinning director Goran Kapetanović, 45. The series centers around a Swedish Security Service agent who receives a tip from a woman that a terror attack is being Goran Kapetanović. Photo: SVTPlay.se

planned in Sweden. The woman is married to an ISIS warrior and is acting as an informant in exchange for Swedish assistance in her escape from an ISISoccupied city in Syria. Kapetanović is well known for having directed films such as Kiruna-Kigali, Min faster i Sarajevo and Krig.

Hosted by Levengood

Swedish TV broadcasting company SVT recently aired An evening together – a show created to unite Swedes all over the country and celebrate everyday heroes fighting the coronavirus. The program, which was hosted by journalist, author and TV host Mark Levengood, 55, featured several performances by some of Sweden’s most successful artists. It offered the opportunity to financially support those hit especially hard by the virus. Levengood said the show would pay tribute to those who are to be praised, namely everyone fighting on the front line. Mark Levengood. Photo: Stellan Herner