57th & 9th: World Tour

Sting and Malikian, the night was music...

The virtuoso and popular violinist Ara Malikian soon appeared on stage, accompanied by his musicians, thus inaugurating Fuengirola's summer of music and the night, which was completely musical, first with the brilliant Malikian (starting at 9:00 PM) and then with one of the most anticipated concerts of the year, Sting's (at 11:00 PM). Full of magic and good vibes, Malikian managed to win over the audience from the very first minute, establishing a special connection and making them laugh with the story of his violin, a gift from his grandfather, to whom he dedicated one of his first songs, Kachn Nazar, an Armenian dance.

Versatile like few others, classic Vivaldi songs and other rockers like Led Zeppelin's Kashmir also played on the slopes of Sohail Castle. "If you see my father around here, don't tell him I played Zeppelin. He was very classic and my brother was very rock, and I didn't like either of them," the artist commented with good humour before launching into another well-known song, danced to by the audience from the film Pulp Fiction just now that it has been re-released.

It was the second time the violinist performed on that stage, after two years ago he sold out the Fuengirola City Festival. And, just like that time, no one left indifferent. Leaving his audience with a great taste in their mouths, knowing they had witnessed a unique show, is his trademark.

But Sting, much less common in these parts, was one of the star performers this summer on the Costa del Sol and wasn't about to be asked for any help. His entrance on stage was simple, while the band was already playing the first chords of one of the songs from their new album, 57th & 9th, which arrived in stores last November as their return to pop rock after more than a decade. A diverse audience burst into applause and cheers, and he addressed them in Spanish with a thick British accent. "Good evening," he said, and nothing more was needed for the audience to thank him for being in Malaga.

Sting gained his popularity with The Police in the late 1970s, and so, naturally, some of the band's songs, such as "Synchronicity," were included right from the start. To whet your appetite for their repertoire, the highlight of his solo career was his song "Englishman," which everyone was eager to sing along to.

Dressed in a simple look, with black jeans and a plain dark short-sleeved T-shirt, the musician continued doing what he does best: filling a space packed with some 8,500 people with music. Two large screens were mounted on the sides of the stage to allow people to follow the concert. This also allowed people from outside, from the walkways that cross the highway, to witness the show, even if it wasn't live. The repertoire also included two of his most iconic songs, Shape of My Heart, Every Breath You Take, and Roxanne, ending before the encore drums, songs he hadn't yet played at press time.

But the songs of The Police and Sting didn't compete; they formed an indivisible whole that also blended with the songs on his first studio album in a decade, 57th & 9th. And all of this next to Sohail Castle, in an idyllic setting with its back to the sea, in Marenostrum Music Castle Park, which made the evening even more special.

This summer will be unforgettable in Fuengirola, especially for lovers of the best music. Concerts by Sting and Ara Malikian will be followed by other artists such as Jamie Cullum, The Beach Boys, Vivancos, and Michael Nyman, among others. These are also joined by concerts from the latest edition of Starlite in Marbella, featuring names such as Elton John and Joaquín Sabina.

(c) Málaga Hoy by Elisa Moreno