SOME of Abba's lyrics may be a little depressing but there's one thing you can bet the house on.

Get out the Swedish supergroup's songbook and it's a cue for a party.

In the case of Meyrick Park on Saturday night, a very big one.

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (under the baton of the effervescent and fun loving Pete Harrison) rocked the place with 'Symphonic Abba' on the second day of the long awaited Proms in the Park.

There was a little help from the West End, most notably Annie Skates (Agnetha) and Emma Kershaw (Frida).

They were both outstanding and perhaps as near the original Abba sound as you are likely to get.

The audience, which look to be about double the size of that for Classical Extravaganza the previous night, played its full part in singing, dancing and dressing up (as did some members of the orchestra).

The hits flowed and flowed.

Especially outstanding were the renditions of Take A Chance on Me, Super Trouper and Lay All Your Love and The Winner Takes It All.

In the second half both the orchestra and singers ramped things up.

The big finish came complete with fireworks and stunning lasers (another amazing technical delivery by the BSO's team of backstage fixers) and the classics Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, Thank You For The Music and Waterloo - a hit first way back in 1974.

The music of Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus really doesn't date.

The concert followed in the great tradition of these big outdoor BSO productions and once again showcased what a versatile, multi-talented, world class orchestra this is, as if we didn't know that.

The evening was one of pure, unadulterated nostalgia, fun and a lot of very embarrassing moves by some members of the audience.

But what the heck? Without a song or a dance, what are we?

So to speak.