Liza Minnelli in Gothenburg collapse

Liza Minnelli collapsed during a show in Gothenburg on Wednesday night. The singer and actress was performing at the city's Scandinavium arena when she was taken ill just before 11pm.

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The Cabaret star sang three songs before dropping the microphone and falling off the stage, according to Göteborgs-Posten.

Concert promoter Mikael Silverskiöld of Svensk Nöjesutveckling confirmed that the Oscar winner had fallen ill:

"Liza Minnelli collapsed during a show at Scandinavium in Gothenburg, and doctors were called," he said in a statement.

Silverskiöld said she was caught by the show's production manager and was not injured in the fall.

Minnelli's aides said the exact nature of her condition was unclear:

"We don't yet know what happened, we are all very worried," said Minnelli's manager, Gery Labriola.

According to a statement released by Minnelli's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, the star had complained of dizziness directly before the concert started, but decided that the show would go on. She then "became very ill shortly after the show began."

"As a result, she was unable to finish her performance and was rushed back to her hotel by her manager. A doctor upon examining her and in consultation with her NY physician, determined that it would be necessary for the Oscar winning actress and singer to immediately return to New York City to receive further medical evaluation," the statement said.

Minnelli is reported to have taken a flight back to New York on Thursday morning.

The daughter of Hollywood legend Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli, Liza Minnelli has suffered previous bouts of ill-health. She was hospitalized in 2000 for what was widely reported to be encephalitis and has had two hip replacement operations, for which she is taking painkillers, according to the concert promoters.

Minnelli was appearing in Gothenburg in a Christmas show along with a number of Swedish stars. Wednesday's performance was the last of four appearances in Sweden.

Singer Carola and entertainer Jan Malmsjö covered for Minnelli following her collapse. They performed a rendition of Silent Night to the disappointed audience.

Silverskiöld said the pair "did a fantastic job despite the circumstances."

Further performances had been planned for Minnelli in Copenhagen on Thursday and Saturday evenings, but these have now been cancelled.

Promoters of Wednesday's show said they had not yet decided how to handle demands for compensation from members of the audience.