Summer: 2012

Sting's hit streak kept the audience warm in Helsinki...

The Finnish summer showed its surprises to the audience at the Helsinki Classic Festival: the gentle warmth of the afternoon changed to a chill and drizzle as the evening came.

Fortunately, there was a performer who kept the audience warm.

Not hot, but warm.

Rock legend Sting, 60, who has distinguished himself in the band Police and in his solo career, performed his hit.

The audience followed, clapping, shouting and dancing, but the atmosphere did not become particularly boisterous.

That was probably not the intention.

The Helsinki Classic Festival was designed to be an event for adults, a more sophisticated event than the most raucous rock festivals.

Hardly any of the 9,000-strong audience went wild and took off their shirts, neither man nor woman.

Sting was a perfect fit for this finer festival like vintage champagne for a strawberry ride.

And what was most pleasing, Sting was on the move as an entertainer.

He wasn't presenting a new album, not proving his musical excellence with self-serving tricks.

No, the biggest hits of the Police and Sting echoed through the summer evening in Kaisaniemi.

'Every Breath You Take', 'Message In The Bottle' and 'Englishman In New York were songs that were thoroughly familiar to the audience.

A total of 16 songs were heard, and the gig lasted almost an hour and a half.

As a skilled, motivated bandleader, however, Sting served not only the audience but also his band.

The band, which consists of brilliant musicians, enjoyed performing. It allowed Sting to go wild in his ambitious songs.

The Helsinki Classic Festival audience also knew how to appreciate amazing musicians.

Guitarist Dominic Miller, keyboardist David Sancious, who previously played in Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band, violinist David Tickell, and Vinnie Colaiuta, who is considered one of the best drummers in the world, received standing ovations for their performances.

Sting opened the concert with a thank you speech in Finnish.

(c) Helsingin Sanomat by Pasi Kostiainen