Sting 3.0

Sting in a trio format: a return to roots to close the season at the Théâtre Antique in Vienne... 

There was an air of the perfect evening tonight at the Théâtre Antique in Vienne. Perfect weather, a sold-out amphitheatre, and the final date of the season - all the ingredients were in place to welcome Sting to this exceptional setting.

Opening the show, the Irish female trio Dea Matrona delivered a half-hour of energetic rock. Their guitar riffs, vocal harmonies, and distinctly neo-70s sound evoked a blend of classic rock and modern pop-rock. It was an effective opener, though one would have happily seen their set last a little longer.

Then Sting took the stage in a stripped-back trio format that inevitably recalled the glory days of The Police. This choice of setup gave the concert a unique character: less sophistication and fewer jazz or world music influences than on some of his previous tours, but a direct, punchy, almost raw approach. It felt like a return to his roots.

The setlist successfully alternated between The Police’s greatest hits and major tracks from Sting’s solo career. Free of artifice and driven by three musicians playing with tight precision, every song regained an immediate energy that captivated both nostalgic fans and admirers of his more recent work.

Against the majestic backdrop of the ancient theatre, the chemistry was perfect. The audience was won over, enthusiastically singing along to every classic and creating a warm, festive atmosphere for the season's final night.

If there was one downside, it was the show's duration. With just 30 minutes for Dea Matrona and an hour and a half for Sting, the event left a slight sense of wanting more. It was hard not to think of Nick Cave’s two-and-a-half-hour set at the same venue, which had conveyed a very different sense of generosity. What remains, however, is the memory of a truly wonderful evening: an inspired Sting, focused on the essentials, who delivered a concert that was elegant, effective, and deeply true to his roots - all within one of France’s most beautiful settings.

(c) Radio Pluriel by Hervé Laurent