Superstar Sting at the sold-out Waldbühne...

It's not so easy to return to the daily routine of pop music after a super-event like the Madonna concerts. What can a well-mannered musician like Sting do against the Queen of Cool? A lot, say the 22,000 spectators – the Waldbühne is sold out. The British singer and bassist's last studio album (Brand New Day) was released two years ago, but for seasoned musicians, topicality sometimes pales in comparison to a life's work that, in this case, spans over twenty years.

Gordon Sumner, aka Sting, is not a man of gestures and show, as the precisely ninety-minute performance proves once again. There's no opulent choreography or spectacular stage design to admire. The Englishman, who in previous years has gathered jazz luminaries such as saxophonist Branford Marsalis around him, has brought six musicians with him this time, among whom drummer Manu Katché and guitarist Dominic Miller are among the top talents in their field.

You don't hide such people in the maze of effects. You let such people do what they want. Sting does that. At several points, he and his accompanists let themselves go, stretching out the structures familiar from the album with joyful play.

The song material presented is all familiar and can be divided into three parts. First, there are tracks from Brand New Day, with which Sting orients himself towards the cosmopolitan zeitgeist. 'A Thousand Years' opens the evening with a contemplative mood. On the energetic 'Perfect Love...Gone Wrong,' Katché comes forward and delivers a rap in French. 'Fill Her Up' is influenced by country elements. The oriental-inspired 'Desert Rose' features the only stage extravaganzas in the form of small fire impressions. These, at times, demanding pieces are dutifully applauded by the audience.

No one is bothered by the moments of artistic ambition. After all, there are enough hits from Sting's solo career to hear. The spirited 'If You Love Somebody Set Them Free' brings the first storms of enthusiasm. Romantic ballads like 'Mad About You' and 'Fields Of Gold' reflect this musician's harmonious side. As expected, the single classic 'Englishman In New York', with its catchy chorus, garners the greatest applause.

Interestingly, it isn't a composition written by Sting alone that brings the audience to their feet. No, it's 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,' one of the many signature moments from his former band, The Police. This piece was released when many of those present in the semicircle were still in school and found their first love with Police songs. Of course, 'Roxanne,' the eternally youthful anthem of impulsive teenagers, couldn't be left out of the mix.

The fact that the almost 50-year-old still plays it with palpable conviction today speaks volumes about his freshness. Whether he can add more to such classics remains to be seen. For now, the "elder statesman of pop" presented himself in extremely fit condition.

(c) Berliner Morgenpost by Michael Hufnagel