Sting and Juan Luis Guerra sing a duet in concert...
Guerra accompanied Sting on guitar, while Fellé Vega joined in on percussion instruments.
More than 5,000 people were in for a big surprise Wednesday night when Dominican composer and singer Juan Luis Guerra appeared on stage to accompany Sting on the final song of the concert, which featured the English singer.
Several notables attended the concert, including Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez.
"This is a special moment for me. I have two very important Dominican musicians here: Fellé Vega and Juan Luis Guerra," Sting exclaimed, to the astonishment of the audience, who reacted with thunderous applause and cheers.
The Dominican artists joined Sting on Wednesday on the song "Fragile," which became an anthem following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.
In addition to performing the song, Guerra accompanied Sting on guitar, while Fellé Vega joined in on percussion instruments.
The historic musical gathering took place on Wednesday at the Altos de Chavón amphitheatre, a medieval replica, located in La Romana, 110 kilometres east of the Dominican capital.
Sting presented a combination of eleven solo songs and songs from his time with The Police during his concert.
Accompanied by three musicians - two guitarists and a drummer - he appeared on stage dressed in black and performed the well-known song "Message in a Bottle," receiving a standing ovation from the audience.
Other classics included "Roxanne," "Every Breath You Take," and "Desert Rose," as well as a brief tribute to The Beatles in the song "A Day in the Life."
During the less than two-hour show, he spoke little, in broken Spanish, and even offered compliments to the Dominican women.
With evident enthusiasm, Sting soaked up the Caribbean atmosphere by allowing several female fans to dance with him to one of his most upbeat songs.
"Sting looked easy going and won over the audience by performing almost all of the songs the fans came to hear," entertainment expert Cristina Liriano told the Associated Press in her assessment of the show.
The artist "scored a big point on that stage, because despite it being a Wednesday, he managed to fill the famous stone stage," Liriano added.
Sting, whose name is Gordon Matthew Sumner, not only attracted fans, but also featured front row members Rodríguez, Tourism Minister Félix Jiménez, former Vice President Milagros Ortiz Bosch, and other politicians and businesspeople.
The singer departed today, Thursday, for Puerto Rico, where he will perform tonight at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan as part of his "Broken Music" tour.
(c) Primera Hora by Ramón Almanzar
Chavón has two stories: before and after Sting...
Last night's concert by Gordon Matius Sumner, aka Sting, at the Altos de Chavón amphitheatre will not only go down in history for its superb attendance, but also set a precedent for its well-organized performance and lighting and sound effects.
The former member of the famed group "The Police," who decided to set up a separate venue in 1984, received applause from more than 5,000 people who packed the country's most picturesque stage.
While outside, discontent reigned among the many who couldn't get in, behind the stone walls, two hours and six minutes were enough for the bilirubin to rise to its maximum expression after the song "Message in a Bottle," debuting the 13-song repertoire that the artist performed convincingly.
An enthusiastic audience filled the amphitheatre, even filling the famous corners. Most were young people between 18 and 30 years old, but there was no shortage of adult fans of classic rock and jazz.
With broken Spanish that drew laughter from the audience, Sting, dressed casually in a gray T-shirt and black pants, an outfit he never changed, captivated the audience even before he took the stage, as his exit was eagerly acclaimed.
The opening of the concert, featuring Fellé Vega on percussion, as a Creole counterpart, pleased the audience, who applauded the three songs performed, including one featuring a water bottle, which confirmed the Creole's skill.
With the fourth song, Sting introduced the three musicians accompanying him: two guitarists, a drummer. He played the bass.
As the audience raved, the rocker acknowledged his first performance in the country by shouting "thank you, RD," prompting shouts, choruses, and applause from thousands of people fascinated by his magic.
Everyone seemed captivated by the man who, at over six feet tall, with his blond hair and characteristically wide, receding hairline, stood out on stage.
Then followed songs like "Walking on the Moon," "King of Pain," "Desert Rose," "Every Little Thing Does is Magic," "Fields of Gold," "If I Ever Lose my Faith in You," and "English Man in New York."
The songs that garnered the greatest uproar and applause from the audience were the mix of "Rosanne," "So Lonely," and "Fragile," performed by Sting alongside Juan Luis Guerra. The emotion that reached this point in the show was reminiscent of his debut album, "The Dream of the Blue Turtles."
Sting looked as impressive as the applause and ovations he received when Juan Luis Guerra appeared, playing guitar and singing backing vocals, dressed in a white shirt and black hat.
The audience included Silvio Rodríguez, Milagros Ortiz Bosch, and Alejandro Grullón, among other notables.
(c) Listín Diario by Florentino Duran
Sting ends concert in Chavón singing with Juan Luis...
The singer gave his all to the Dominican people and spoke of the beauty of Dominican women.
The surprise came at the end of the concert given last night in Altos de Chavón by British singer Sting. After performing some 20 songs on stage, the musical legend called Dominican musician Juan Luis Guerra on stage to play guitar, along with Fellé Vega, his counterpart. Together, they performed the song "Fragile," concluding a performance that began at 8:50 p.m. and ended at 10:30 p.m.
The artist, who was accompanied on stage by three musicians (two guitarists and a drummer), came on stage dressed in black performing the song "Message in a Bottle," which earned him a single shout from the audience.
Sting gave himself completely to the Dominican people. He spoke of the beauty of Dominican women and couldn't contain himself. He brought some fans up on stage, dancing with him to one of his songs.
He spoke little, but he did speak in Spanish. The few times he did, it was to ask them to sing along to his songs, and the more than five thousand people who came to see him obliged, applauding him endlessly.
Sting tore down the stones of Chavón and delivered a concert that at times seemed romantic and then suddenly switched to more upbeat songs, as if to show he was in a tropical country.
He sounded effortless and won over the local audience by performing almost all of the songs the fans came to hear. He scored a big point on that stage, because despite it being a Wednesday, he managed to fill the famous stone stage.
The former leader of The Police had a chance to perform songs like "Walking On The Moon," "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You," "King of Pain," and "Englishman in New York," among others.
Fallé Vega was the counterpart and excelled in his performance, performing several songs that got the audience excited and excited for Sting's exit, which came out on time and without much delay.
Sting, whose real name is Gordon Matthew Sumner, managed to break the attendance limit when the Chavón stones were packed with fans who couldn't stop singing along to his songs.
He performed hits from over 20 years ago, such as "Roxanne," "Every Breath You Take," and "Desert Rose."
(c) El Viajero Digital
The night of Sting, Juan Luis, and Fellé...
Chavón was packed to capacity with people, mostly long-time Sting fans. In the VIP area, businessmen and artists dominated the scene: Manuel Grullón, along with his wife Rosa and her son, singer Claudio Piantini, danced, albeit discreetly, to most of the songs.
Last night was simply a concert for the ages. Sting came to Altos de Chavón with the goal of thrilling his fans. And he certainly succeeded. More than 5,000 people sang along, almost always standing and dancing, to the 15 songs that were part of a select repertoire that highlighted songs from his years with The Police.
The punctuality of the event, a rare exception to the rule for shows held in the country, pleasantly surprised all those in attendance. At 8:00 p.m. Dominican percussionist Fellé Vega, the opening act for the evening, began his performance on time. His songs were well received by the audience, although many complained of not being able to see him because the entrance to the VIP area was blocked during his performance, obstructing a large portion of the audience's view of the stage.
At 8:45 p.m., Vega said goodbye to applause, giving way to Sting's technicians, who in less than fifteen minutes had the stage ready for the king of the night. Wearing a tight black T-shirt and baggy pants of the same colour, the Englishman quietly entered the stage, at the same time as the three musicians accompanying him on this Broken Music Tour. Guitar in hand, and preceded by a well-pronounced "Good night!", Sting began to sing.
"Fields of Gold," "Walking On The Moon," "If Ever Lose My Faith In You," and "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" were the first songs performed by the rocker. In the audience, those who lived through The Police's golden age as teenagers and young adults could only scream when they recognized the chords of one of the tracks. "That was the first song I learned in English!" said Ramón Valdéz, a 35-year-old engineer who came to Chavón from Santiago to enjoy the event with his wife and two couples of friends. "This is something historic, it's incredible, I feel 20 again," commented Sheila Inoa, who, along with her 17-year-old daughter Nicole Cabrera, enjoyed the event in the VIP area.
After performing the first 11 songs, and following an impressive pair of guitar solos by the musicians, the small band left the stage, only to return minutes later. "A Thousand Years," a song from his solo career, was an invitation for six graceful fans, with the approval of security, to come up and dance with Sting on stage. When he then sang the anthem "Every Breath You Take," many took it as a sure sign of the end. But the best was yet to come.
"This is the most complete concert we've seen around here in a long time," commented Socorro Castellanos, one of those who thought it was all over and was preparing to leave after praising the artist's energy and musical quality. "My only disappointment is that he didn't sing "Fragile,"" she lamented.
But Castellanos didn't have time to leave. Sting reappeared, this time with the lights on, to explain in English that this was his first visit to the Dominican Republic and to thank the audience for their receptiveness. "This is a special moment for me," he added, "because I have two very important Dominican musicians here: Fellé Vega and Juan Luis Guerra." The audience went wild upon seeing the percussionist enter the stage once again, this time accompanied by the award-winning singer-songwriter. With no more greeting than a small bow, both musicians took up instruments - Guerra, and Fellé, on drums - and thus began the chords of what would become their farewell song: "Fragile."
At the end, and amid a storm of applause, Sting thanked his musicians, his guests, and the audience, while promising to "come back again," bringing an unforgettable night to a close.
(c) Clave Digital by Carol Croussett y Yanina Estévez
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