Sting and half a million listeners...

Exceeding all previous expectations, more than half a million people attended the free Budapest concert of British pop star Sting, which was held at the Parade Square courtesy of the T-Mobile mobile service provider.

Sting came to Hungary as the star of the Connections concert series launched in 1997. His nearly two-hour concert featured songs from his 25-year-old oeuvre, almost without exception evergreen hits. The first half of the performance gave a taste of material from his new album, 'Sacred Love', and then the real big guns could follow. 'Fragile', the legendary 'Englishman in New York', 'If I Ever Lose My Faith In You' were performed, while the line-up was closed by 'Desert Rose' and 'Every Breath You Take', which has been covered in countless forms. The 53-year-old Sting, whose real name is Gordon Sumner, once again took to the stage to wish the enthusiastic audience from all over the country a good night with a pleasant, romantic song. Sting was naturally accompanied by a live band during the evening.

The program was led by prominent personalities of the Hungarian pop music scene, both old and new. Charlie Horváth, Adrienn Zsédenyi, Eszter Váczi, Péter Geszti, Tamás Somló, András Hajós, Barna Pély, the two finalists of the Megasztár: Veronika Tóth and Ibolya Oláh, and the Roma vocal virtuoso Emilio appeared on stage for one song each. The artists were accompanied by the 19-member band called the Budapest Jazz Orchestra.

After the Hungarians, and immediately before Sting, the invited guest, Suzanne Vega, performed, who served as a welcome treat for lovers of softer sounds.

(c) Népszabadság