Symphonicity: 2010/11

Sting Concert in Bucharest: 10,000 spectators gathered in Constitution Square...

Sting's 'Symphonicity' concert on Monday in Constitution Square, backed by an impressive 50 piece orchestra, began at around 8.20pm.

Approximately 10,000 spectators came to the capital's Constitution Square to see Sting's concert, the first in 2011 supporting the artist's European 'Symphonicity' tour.

The stage was impressively large accommodating a symphonic orchestra and their instruments as well as the singer, Sting. On both sides of the stage two giant screens were installed allowing spectators to watch the concert. The whole stage set up capable of supporting at least 14,000lbs of equipment, instruments and musicians was brought in from the Netherlands especially for the event, according to organisers Emagic.

The impressive orchestra consisting of fifty musicians accompanied by Dominic Miller (guitar), Rana Krija (percussion), Jo Lawry (vocals) and Ira Coleman (bass). under the direction of Sarah Hicks celebrated a breathtaking journey through Sting's best known songs, not only from his solo career but also his time with The Police.

The 'Symphonicity' world tour is being promoted internationally by Live Nation and produced by RZO Entertainment, in association with Universal Music Management & Productions.

Sting, on his third visit to Romania, arrived in Bucharest on Monday around noon, sources told AFP.

With a brilliant career, which includes many platinum award winning albums and an impressive number of hits, countless awards and sales of almost 100 million records world-wide, Sting has returned with reworked versions of his most famous songs by Jorge Jorge Calandrella, David Hartley, Michel Legrand, Rob Mathes, Vince Mendoza, Steven Mercurio, Bill Ross, Robert and Nicola Tescari Sadin.

The selection of songs reinterpreted for this tour includes the best-known hits from the time spent with the band The Police - 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic', 'Roxanne', 'Next To You' and 'Every Breath You Take' - and well known pieces but defining sound of Sting's solo career - 'Englishman in New York', 'Fragile', 'Russians', 'If I Ever Lose My Faith in You', 'Fields Of Gold' and 'Desert Rose'.

Sting's first foray into the field of classical music began with the album 'Songs from the Labyrinth', released in 2006 on Deutsche Grammophon. The material offers a fascinating interpretation of 16th century lute music by composer John Dowland. After the reunion tour that marked the band The Police, Sting returned to his passion for combining musical genres with the album 'If On A Winter's Night...', which debuted in first place in Billboard Classics.

As a solo artist and member of the band The Police, Sting has received 16 Grammy awards, two Brit Awards, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, three Oscar nominations, Billboard Magazine Century Award given by the title of Man of the Year in 2004, the MusiCares, and was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame.

© Gandul by Cristian Fierbinteanu

Sting concert for 10,000 fans in Bucharest...

Playing for the third time in Romania, Sting's concert Monday night in Constitution Square took place in front of 10,000 fans. The setlist included the most well known songs of the artist's solo career and had four songs from the period in which Sting was a member of the band The Police, all performed in the symphonic version with the Sofia Philharmonic.

The concert started at around 8:15pm, after he too the stage with the symphony orchestra composed of 50 musicians, led by conductor Sarah Hicks. Also, with Sting in Bucharest were Dominic Miller (guitar), Rana Krija (percussion), Jo Lawry (vocals) and Ira Coleman (bass).

In the first part of the show, the British artist performed songs such as 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic', 'If I Ever Lose My Faith In You', 'Englishman in New York', 'Roxanne' (Police song), 'Mad About You', 'When We Dance', 'Russians', 'I Hung My Head' (covered by Johnny Cash), 'Why Should I Cry For You', 'Whenever I Say Your Name', 'Fields Of Gold', 'Next To You' (Police song), and also greeted the audience in Romanian with the words "Good evening, Bucharest!"

After a break of 20 minutes, the concert continued with songs like 'Shape Of My Heart', 'This Cowboy Song', 'Moon Over Bourbon Street' (during which he performed on the theremin), 'End Of The Game', 'King Of Pain' (Police song), and 'Every Breath You Take' (Police song).

As an encore, Sting performed 'Desert Rose', 'She's Too Good For Me', 'Fragile' and 'Message In A Bottle' (sang acoustically, alone, with guitar).

Sting arrived in Romania on Monday at noon. The show was his the third concert in our country, after the shows held in 1996 and 2009. The event on June 6 was part of the 'Symphonicity' Tour and was the first show in Europe this year.

Sting's first foray into the field of classical music began with the album "Songs from the Labyrinth" released in 2006 on Deutsche Grammophon, the album offers a fascinating interpretation, the lute, music composer John Dowland (XVI century). After the reunion tour that marked the band The Police, Sting returned to his passion for combining musical genres with the album "If On A Winter's Night...", which debuted number one on the Billboard Classics.

As a solo artist and member of The Police, Sting has received no less than 16 Grammy awards, two Brit, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, three Oscar nominations, the trophy offered by Billboard Magazine Century Award and Person of the Year title 2004 from MusiCares, and this in "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" and "Songwriters Hall of Fame".

© HotNews by Cosmin Navadaru