The Police, without too many wrinkles, at the Stade de France...

Thirty years after their creation and twenty-three years after a "gap year" that only ended last May, the trio The Police proved that they have stood the test of time rather well on Saturday during the first of their two concerts at the Stade de France.

This observation, nuanced by the sometimes impersonal nature of this reunion, is particularly true for Sting, his slender figure, square shoulders, and V-shaped torso moulded into a white tank top.

At almost 56 (he turns 56 on Tuesday), time seems to have no effect on him, whether it's due to his intensive practice of sport or tantric love, of which he has long claimed to be a devotee.

On a stage framed by giant screens and immense illuminated panels, the band kicked off the evening at 9 p.m. with the subliminal "Message In A Bottle." Like a message in a bottle arriving safely after a quarter of a century.

After the second song, Sting, his old, threadbare Fender bass guitar slung over his shoulder, addressed the crowd in French. "I'd like to introduce you to my friends," he exclaimed, pointing to guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland.

"Sing along with me, please," he then said, launching into "Walking On The Moon," soon followed by the 79,000 spectators.

In the audience, among the long, peroxide-coloured necks of the '80s, the long, peroxide-coloured necks fashionable in the '80s have long since given way to graying bald spots.

But, as is often the case at concerts by this kind of "historic" band, there are also a large number of young people. A sign that The Police's music has not only left its mark on its era, but also on the one that followed.

The songs follow one another without a break, offering an open-air best-of: "Don't Stand So Close To Me," "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"...

The songs are stretched out to leave room for Summers' solos, alternately clutching his red Stratocaster or his peeling Telecaster.

This reunion sometimes feels impersonal, lacking in emotion.

This didn't stop a packed Stade de France from dancing to the Anglo-American band's most famous hits, in the blend of rock, pop, and reggae that characterized the group.

For example, "Can't Stand Losing You" was a hit. A mere trifle compared to the standing ovation that greeted "Roxanne," under a red light reminiscent of the red-light districts frequented by the prostitute mentioned in the song.

The concert ended with "So Lonely" and then "Every Breath You Take."

At the end of the two-hour set, The Police had a nice surprise in store for their French fans by bringing Henry Padovani on stage to perform "Next To You." This Frenchman was the band's first guitarist in 1977, before being quickly ousted in favour of Summers.

Since the start of this world tour on May 28, Saturday's concert was the first to feature a full-fledged reunion of The Police.

The opening act was Fiction Plane, the band of Sting's son, Joe Sumner, who, in attitude (he's the singer-bassist in a trio) and voice, strives to imitate his father.

On Monday, the day after their second French concert, the three members of The Police will be knighted in the Order of Arts and Letters by the Minister of Culture, Christine Albanel.

(c) Agence France-Presse