A passion for offbeat sounds...

This man must be a darling of the gods: It had been raining all day, but it suddenly dried up just in time for the audience to enter, and when Sting finally took the stage on Sunday evening, the sun even peeked through the clouds. Thus, Sting, a truly distinguished British gentleman, was able to welcome his 20,000 fans on Munich's Königsplatz "in my castle" in front of the magnificent backdrop and spread good cheer for two hours.

The 50-year-old pop chameleon succeeds in this not least because he clearly no longer takes himself so seriously and refrains from playing the stern saviour of the world. Instead, the singer and his excellent seven-piece backing band perform the balancing act between a boisterous pop event and a sophisticated concert. The catchy melodies are repeatedly punctuated by virtuoso variations. Sting's passion for offbeat sounds repeatedly takes over. These are the best moments of the evening – because you can tell the artist enjoys his own music.

That wasn't always the case. In the past, Sting often came across as a professor, explaining to the audience why they should appreciate key or tempo changes, thus spreading cultivated boredom as an entertainer. The former teacher has now freed himself from this attitude, and it's good for him and the show. With witty dance numbers, Sting shatters his boring image and creates a lively atmosphere without lowering the quality of his songs.

On the contrary, the more wildly the musician and his band rework the hits from 25 years, the more euphorically the Munich audience reacts. When, for example, he turns the first "Police" hit, "Roxanne," into a ten-minute monster, in which he repeatedly varies, loses, and rediscovers the theme, it's simply magnificent. To the delight of the audience, Sting alternates between jazz, soul, club music, and rock on the other hits. Thanks to his enthusiastic band, it never seems academic - even if Sting himself doesn't display the same passion as his bandmates.

As a Brit, you're finally in control. At least until the encore. With the oriental-inspired "Desert Rose," he finally brings Königsplatz to a frenzy with an ecstatic performance. With the immortal heartbreak anthem "Every Breath You Take," Sting finally banishes the evening chill. "Starting tomorrow is summer," he promises in German as he bids farewell. After this concert, we believe anything Sting says.

(c) Merkur Online by Zoran Gojic