Sting.com . What's New

Sting & Edin Karamazov to perform in Croatia...

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:26:05 -0500

In support of the critically-acclaimed album, 'Songs From the Labyrinth', Sting and Edin Karamazov will perform a concert on February 11th, at the Vatroslav Lisinski in Zagreb. Tickets will go on sale from December 10. Further details will follow shortly.

Sting plays his first show at Sydney Opera House... ''Beautiful, soulful and full of surprises

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:48:39 -0500

While Sting's lute gently weeps...

It is hard to believe that Sting has never played at the Sydney Opera House before. Platinum records, Grammys and Oscars, playing to 100,000 people, no sweat, but put him in the (relatively speaking) intimate confines of the Concert Hall and he looks slightly nervous. Loping on with the wonderfully nerdy lutenist Edin Karamazov, he sits down among a small forest of lutes and begins to sing.

John Dowland (1563-1626) was an English composer, singer and lutenist. His songs have a haunting quality that resonates with many musicians, not least Elvis Costello, but in the hands of Sting they have most certainly found a fine 21st-century home. Sting is part-singer, part-storyteller, immersing us in the turbulent 16th century before revisiting some old 20th-century songs.

His performances are direct and winning. It is most definitely Sting, not a classically trained voice, and the melodies sometimes land him right in the most uncomfortable range of his voice. But any superficial artlessness is made up for by his instinctive ability - the same ability that has made him a millionaire - to deliver a great song.

Sting is also clearly no slouch on the archlute (a 14-stringed, tenor version of the guitar's great grandfather, the lute). Karamazov, however, is the real inspiration here, an ideal straight man who crafts the intricate accompaniments with exquisite care and style. The duo is joined by Stile Antico, an eight-piece a capella group from Britain, who provide strength in numbers for the rowdier madrigals and subtle but very effective backing in some of the ballads.

The set has grown since 'Songs Of The Labyrinth' was released in 2006. Sting observes that Dowland's songs echo through time and in the last part of the show he performs a selection of English songs from Elgar and Vaughan Williams to his own 'Field Of Dreams'. Apart from the slightly over-arranged 'Message In A Bottle' it is all beautiful, soulful and full of surprises. Dowland should be proud.

© Sydney Morning Herald by Harriet Cunningham

The Police, U2, Coldplay, Killers Help Launch (RED)WIRE...

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:34:20 -0500

Some of the biggest names in music are contributing exclusive songs to RED(WIRE), a new digital music magazine launching on World AIDS Day, December 1.

The Police, U2, Coldplay, the Killers, the Dixie Chicks, John Legend, R.E.M. and Bob Dylan are on board for the initiative, which is an outgrowth of the Bono-reared activist organization (RED). All proceeds from subscriptions will benefit HIV-infected people in Africa; MSN.com will host a kick-off party on Dec. 1.

For $5, users will receive a new issue of RED(WIRE) every Wednesday, featuring an exclusive song from a major artist, a song from an artist (RED) aims to showcase, a multimedia piece that could encompass video or photography and a look at how proceeds are directly benefiting Africans in need. The materials will be downloaded to a custom player and automatically loaded into iTunes.

Users can send two free issues to friends, and will be rewarded if they join RED(WIRE). "Artists are already saying, 'I want to give you a track for those people who brought friends in,'" (RED)WIRE founder Don MacKinnon tells Billboard.com. "That's the biggest idea: using social networking to actually change the world in a unique way."

U2's track was recorded just last Wednesday, while the Killers, Elton John and the Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant teamed up for the Christmas song "Joseph, Better You Than Me," which MacKinnon describes as "like a power ballad." This is the third year in a row the Killers have penned a holiday song and donated proceeds to (RED).

Meanwhile, John Legend's take on Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" finds him eschewing piano for a stripped-down arrangement with guitar, bass and backing vocalists, according to MacKinnon.

Also coming is the first new Dixie Chicks song since the group's Grammy sweep in 2007, "Lucky One," and Elvis Costello and the Police jamming on "Watching the Detectives" and "Walking On the Moon," taped during Costello's new Sundance Channel show "Spectacle." Additional (RED)WIRE offerings will be announced in the coming weeks.

MacKinnon is particularly enthused about the creative directions open to (RED)WIRE, especially with such high-profile artist participation.

"I had a meeting with Jay-Z, and he wants to talk about artists to be featured in that spotlight slot," he says. "Big artists may curate an issue. The whole goal was to create a creative platform. When somebody says, 'I do all this photography and I want to put it in as an extra,' That's when I go, this is going to be really cool."

Visit red.msn.com/ to see a great clip of The Police and Elvis Costello performing 'Watching The Detectives/Walking On The Moon' from Elvis's new TV show "Spectacle".

Signed Sting bass up for auction!

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:54:37 -0500

When Sting was back home in Newcastle recently he signed one of his Fender Precision Signature basses and this is currently being auctioned to raise funds for Acomb Court Residential Care Home in Hexham, near Newcastle. This is a really worthwhile cause and provides Sting fans with the ideal opportunity to get their hands on a fantastic Christmas present for either themselves or a loved one!

The Japanese Fender is Sting's signature model and has been donated by an anonymous source with the purpose of raising funds for the residents at Acomb Court. As an exceptional addition to the guitar, Sting himself signed it on his visit to the region this month (see photo).

Angela Bews, Manager at Acomb Court said: "We were delighted when we found out about this very exciting donation. We always ensure that the residents have plenty of activities and trips planned throughout the year and this generous donation will enable us to do this even more this year."

The guitar will appear on eBay from the Friday 28 November and will be auctioned for two weeks. The guitar will be set at a guide price of £600 and comes with a soft case and a certificate of authenticity.

Visit www.ebay.co.uk to bid or for further information!

Sting: Songs from the Labyrinth Australian & Asian Tour...

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:00:01 -0500

In support of a special edition of the critically-acclaimed album, Songs from the Labyrinth - a personal tribute to late 16th-century Elizabethan composer, John Dowland (1563-1626) - Sting will embark on a tour of Australia and Asia, joined by esteemed lutenist, Edin Karamazov. The tour, which opens at the Sydney Opera House on 30th November, includes performances in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Osaka (tour itinerary included below).

'Songs from the Labyrinth' began as a Deutsche Grammophon recording project in 2006 which surpassed all expectations by debuting at the top of the classical charts in the US, UK, France, Canada & Germany. The album remained on Billboard's #1 classical charts for fifteen consecutive weeks and was the top selling classical album of both 2006 and 2007. A DVD, entitled 'The Journey and the Labyrinth', followed the CD and was also released on Deutsche Grammophon. It was filmed appropriately at Sting's 16th-century manor house in Wiltshire (Lake House), in the ancient gardens of his home in Italy (Il Palagio), and at a live concert at St Luke's Church in London.

TOUR ITINERARY

30 Nov 2008 - Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney
01 Dec 2008 - City Hall, King George Square, Brisbane
03 Dec 2008 - The Arts Centre, Hamer Hall, Melbourne
05 Dec 2008 - Concert Hall, Perth
07 Dec 2008 - Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur
08 Dec 2008 - Esplanade Hall, Singapore
10 Dec 2008 - Jockey Club, Hong Kong
16 Dec 2008 - Orchard Hall, Tokyo
17 Dec 2008 - Orchard Hall, Tokyo
18 Dec 2008 - Orchard Hall, Tokyo
20 Dec 2008 - Festival Hall, Osaka
21 Dec 2008 - Yokohama Pacifico, Yokohama

To accompany the upcoming tour, Deutsche Grammophon will release a special edition of Songs from the Labyrinth which features three bonus tracks, including Sting's own 'Fields of Gold' and 'Message in a Bottle', which he performs with Edin Karamazov on lute, as well as a special, live version of Robert Johnson's 'Have You Seen the Bright Lily Grow', recorded in New York in September 2006.

The original Deutsche Grammophon release also garnered critical success. It was hailed as "a remarkable triumph" by London's The Guardian and "exquisite" by Japan's Sankei newspaper whilst France's Le Monde commented: "the poetry of this album, sung with painstaking care, comes from the exactitude & honesty with which the pop artist renders Dowland's texts".

Sting was first introduced to the music of John Dowland in the early 1980s, and has said that Dowland's music has been "gently haunting" him for more than twenty years. Songs from the Labyrinth honors the life of John Dowland by not only recreating his music, but also his words. Sting incorporates short recitations of a letter John Dowland wrote in 1595 to Queen Elizabeth's Secretary of State, Sir Robert Cecil, into the album, pleading his allegiance to the English throne in the hope of an invitation into the Royal Court, providing further insight to Dowland's life and times.

Edin Karamazov has been Sting's partner in this project from its conception. A protégé of the legendary conductor Sergiu Celibidache, Edin Karamazov began his musical career with the classical guitar, continuing his studies of the Baroque Lute at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. His 2003 recording 'Come Heavy Sleep' set new standards for lute playing and, as a soloist, he has performed and recorded with leading international early music ensembles and artists including the Hilliard Ensemble, Hesperion XX, Mala Punica and Andreas Scholl. Newly signed as an exclusive Decca artist, Edin Karamazov's first recording on the label will be released this Autumn; entitled 'The Lute is a Song', the album traces 400 years of lute music from the Renaissance to the present day and features guest artists Kaliopi, Andreas Scholl, Sting and Renée Fleming.

Joining Sting and Edin Karamazov on this tour is the British a cappella choir Stile Antico, who are featured in all the European performances of Songs from the Labyrinth to date, giving vocal accompaniment to some of the more raucous tavern songs and gentle lullabies that are found in Dowland's wide-ranging music. An ensemble in their own right, Stile Antico have won numerous awards for their recordings of 16th and 17th music as well as a Grammy award nomination for Best Small Ensemble Performance. Their next recording, 'Song of Songs', will be released in 2009.

TV & Radio Listings...

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Sting or The Police are featured in the following forthcoming shows... Also listed are other shows or films that may be of interest to members. All times are Eastern Time unless specified. Please use this listing as a guide only for timings...The following TV shows all feature Sting or The Police related content. Also listed are other shows or films that may be of interest to members. All times are ET unless stated otherwise. Please use this listing as a guide only for timings and check your LOCAL TV listings to avoid disappointment.

These listings do not pretend to be complete, so if you hear of any TV or Radio shows being broadcast in your country that are not mentioned here be sure to let us know. If you have any information about an upcoming show, even if it is in your own language, please email details to us at at daveandwendy@sting.com so we can include it here.

November 30
SHOF | 6.30am + 6pm ET | 'All We Are Saying' (USA)
All We Are Saying is a compelling, personal look at what makes musicians tick. Rosanna Arquette follows up her critically acclaimed documentary directorial debut, 'Searching for Debra Winger', with a look into the psyches of some of the top musical artists of the day. Through a series of intimate conversations, over fifty musical legends, hot new artists and music industry insiders reveal what inspires them, their personal struggles of balancing relationships and family while working on the road and the state of the music business in the 21st Century. Presented as an ongoing, casual conversation, the film offers a unique insight into the artists most candid and personal thoughts. Features Sting, Chrissie Hynde, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, David Crosby, and Sheryl Crow among others.

November 30
RAVE HD | 2pm ET | 'Montreux Jazz Festival 2006' (USA)
Featuring Sting, The Strokes, and Iggy Pop.

November 30
PLD HD | 10pm ET | 'VH1 Rock Honors: The Who' (USA)
Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Incubus, The Flaming Lips, and Tenacious D took the stage to pay tribute to legendary rock band The Who and gave the audience a night to remember. The third annual "VH1 Rock Honors" honored the music and influence of revolutionary rock band, The Who. This was the first "VH1 Rock Honors" to salute just one band. The show saluted The Who through spoken tributes and filmed packages featuring Sting, Dave Navarro, Billy Idol, Billy Bob Thornton, Noel Gallagher, Slash, Coldplay and many others. Throughout the show, VH1 gave viewers a nostalgic look at The Who through archival footage and interviews straight from the super-group themselves.

December 1
RAVE HD | 4am ET | 'Montreux Jazz Festival 2006' (USA)
Featuring Sting, The Strokes, and Iggy Pop.

December 1
PLD HD | 5pm ET | 'Isle of Wight Festival' (USA)
Highlights from the 2008 festival featuring The Police, The Sex Pistols, Iggy and The Stooges, Kate Nash and N.E.R.D.

December 2
TCM | 9pm UK Time | 'Plenty' (UK)
An exploration of post World War II European society and its discontents, as symbolised by the shifting emotional and political alliances of one English woman based on the critically acclaimed play by David Hare. For Susan Traherne (Merryl Streep) nothing can match the heroism and excitement of her wartime involvement with the French Resistance; nor can any man match the young soldier with whom she had an affair. Back in England, her youthful optimism slowly fades as she experiments with a variety of political movements and a variety of men. Tracey Ullman co-stars as Susan's constant companion, who lives life as a bohemian free spirit, uninhibited, but unable to stop Susan's decline into depression and unabashed alienation. Ultimately, Susan settles into a marriage with an upper class diplomat that leads to disillusionment and, finally, madness. Also stars Sting.

December 4
RAVE HD | 4am ET | 'Montreux Jazz Festival 2006' (USA)
Featuring Sting, The Strokes, and Iggy Pop.

December 7
PLD HD | 9am ET | 'Isle of Wight Festival' (USA)
Highlights from the 2008 festival featuring The Police, The Sex Pistols, Iggy and The Stooges, Kate Nash and N.E.R.D.

December 7
PLD HD | 6pm ET | 'Hard Rock Calling' (USA)
The "Hard Rock Calling Festival" featured two top musical icons, The Police along with blues legend Eric Clapton. Festival goers were treated to the last UK performance of The Police, as the crowd sang along to their top hits, including, "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic," "Message in a Bottle" and "I Can't Stand Losing You."

December 9
Sky Screen 2 | 11.05pm UK Time | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

December 12
TVGN | 11am ET | 'Celebrity Says' (USA)
Contestants are quizzed on how well they think they know celebrities by answering questions the stars have been asked at various red carpet events. This episode focuses on Sting.

December 12
HBOe | 11pm ET | 'Little Britain USA' (USA)
Features a guest appearance from Sting.

December 13
Sky Screen 2 | 3am UK Time | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

December 16
Channel 4 | 00.00am UK Time | 'Spectacle: Elvis Costello With The Police' (UK)
The Police join Elvis Costello at New York's Apollo Theatre for a feast of interviews and live performances.

December 16
Sky Movies Indie | 00.25am UK Time | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

December 17
Sky Arts 1 | 9pm UK Time | 'Montreux Years 2006' (UK)
Sky Arts presents some of the top highlights from the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival, featuring performances from Sting, The Strokes, Iggy Pop and Deep Purple.

December 18
Sky Arts 1 | 9am + 11am + 4pm + 6pm UK Time| 'Montreux Years 2006' (UK)
Sky Arts presents some of the top highlights from the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival, featuring performances from Sting, The Strokes, Iggy Pop and Deep Purple.

December 21
S4C | 2.15am UK Time | 'Spectacle: Elvis Costello With The Police' (UK)
The Police join Elvis Costello at New York's Apollo Theatre for a feast of interviews and live performances.

December 22
TCM | 9pm UK Time | 'Plenty' (UK)
An exploration of post World War II European society and its discontents, as symbolised by the shifting emotional and political alliances of one English woman based on the critically acclaimed play by David Hare. For Susan Traherne (Merryl Streep) nothing can match the heroism and excitement of her wartime involvement with the French Resistance; nor can any man match the young soldier with whom she had an affair. Back in England, her youthful optimism slowly fades as she experiments with a variety of political movements and a variety of men. Tracey Ullman co-stars as Susan's constant companion, who lives life as a bohemian free spirit, uninhibited, but unable to stop Susan's decline into depression and unabashed alienation. Ultimately, Susan settles into a marriage with an upper class diplomat that leads to disillusionment and, finally, madness. Also stars Sting.

December 26
Sky Movies Indie | 10pm UK Time | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

December 29
Sky Arts 1 | 9pm UK Time | 'Everyone Stares - The Police Inside Out' (UK)
Everyone Stares is a first-person account from Stewart Copeland's eyes of The Police's ascent from obscurity to worldwide fame. Culled from over 50 hours of super 8 movies he shot during the acclaimed trio's heyday, the film offers an insider's view of touring with fellow band members Sting and Andy Summers and the reaction of adoring fans worldwide, all of which, gives the audience a unique perspective from the drummer's seat.

December 30
Sky Arts 1 | 9.05am + 4.05pm UK Time | 'Everyone Stares - The Police Inside Out' (UK)
Everyone Stares is a first-person account from Stewart Copeland's eyes of The Police's ascent from obscurity to worldwide fame. Culled from over 50 hours of super 8 movies he shot during the acclaimed trio's heyday, the film offers an insider's view of touring with fellow band members Sting and Andy Summers and the reaction of adoring fans worldwide, all of which, gives the audience a unique perspective from the drummer's seat.

January 1
Dave | 10am + 3pm UK Time | 'TOTP2' (UK)
Special edition of the nostalgic music show presented by comedy duo Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer. Their choices this time include 'You Wear It Well' by Rod Stewart, the White Stripes with 'Hotel Yorba' and 'Turning Japanese' by the Vapours, plus tracks from Sting and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch.

January 3
Sky Movies Indie | 10pm UK Time | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

January 10
Sky Arts 1 | 9pm UK Time | 'Everyone Stares - The Police Inside Out' (UK)
Everyone Stares is a first-person account from Stewart Copeland's eyes of The Police's ascent from obscurity to worldwide fame. Culled from over 50 hours of super 8 movies he shot during the acclaimed trio's heyday, the film offers an insider's view of touring with fellow band members Sting and Andy Summers and the reaction of adoring fans worldwide, all of which, gives the audience a unique perspective from the drummer's seat.

January 20
Sky Arts | 10pm UK Time | 'Eric Clapton: Standing at the Crossroads' (UK)
Slowhand gives an intimate insight into his turbulent life and glittering career in this revealing documentary. Includes interviews with Keith Richards, John Lee Hooker and Sting.

January 21
Sky Movies Indie | 2.20am UK Time | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

January 25
Sky Movies Indie | 10pm UK Time | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

January 29
Sky Movies Indie | 2.15am UK Time | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

Sting & Edin Karamazov to perform in Romania...

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:00:01 -0500

In support of the critically-acclaimed album, 'Songs From the Labyrinth', Sting and Edin Karamazov will perform a concert on February 10th, at the Palatului Hall in Bucharest. Tickets are now on sale via http://www.myticket.ro/.

A Night at the Opera with Sting and Elvis...

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:35:21 -0500

Once again, the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris has given French opera critics a case of the vapors - but this time, two British new wave pop stars are at the center of the uproar. Since Jean-Luc Choplin became director in 2006, the historic opera house's repertoire of classic opera has increasingly taken a back seat to newer, bolder commissions in a bid to make the Chatelet stage a true crossroads for the arts. From a Bollywood-style remake of the 1923 opera-ballet Padmavati, to a stage mutation of the sci-fi horror film 'The Fly', the Chatelet has had opera purists hyperventilating as it seeks to tear down walls between genres.

But perhaps the Chatelet's most ambitious and controversial gambit yet was to transform veteran rockers Sting and Elvis Costello into opera stars... kind of. As Sting qualified it during a TIME interview with the two musicians, "Well, no one is going to offer Elvis and I parts in Tosca, right?" Costello added, "Except 'Spear-Bearer' maybe."

Indeed, the opera 'Welcome to the Voice', which premiered Nov. 20, doesn't demand feats of coloratura of the pair. Rather, they lend their rock timbres to improbable duets with such brilliant sopranos as Sylvia Schwartz to "hopefully make harmony," as Sting says.

The work is the fruit of a genuine romance between the opera's composer, longtime Costello keyboardist Steve Nieve, and the writer and psychoanalyst Muriel Teodori, who wrote the Franco-English libretto. First released as a Deutsche Grammophon recording in 2007, the opera recounts the story of Greek immigrant steelworker Dionysos (played by a bearded Sting), who falls in love with an opera diva, much to the consternation of his blue-collar buddies. His stalker-like obsession nearly gets him incarcerated by the police commissioner (a hulking, black-robed Costello), but with a little supernatural intervention by the ghosts of operas past, all ends well.

The title of the opera refers to the transcendent and reconciliatory power of the human voice, whether scared or profane. However, in the ears of critics at the French dailies, the experiment has proved to be less than pitch-perfect. Le Figaro, for example, declared Welcome to the Voice "rock and opera's wedding gone wrong," slipping into "platitudes." Meanwhile, the daily Liberation, criticized the libretto's "naivete."

Teodori rejects the characterization. "When you're not cynical people say you're naive, and our message is simple and without cynicism," she says. "It's the belief in the virtue of hybrids, of mixing what at first wouldn't seem to go together." Teodori weaves her tale by drawing on age-old themes - the clashes between high and low culture, and the upper and working classes.

For Sting, a singer who grew up delivering milk early mornings with his father in the coal mining and shipbuilding town of Wallsend, England, those themes of class struggle drew him to his character. "There's the Dionysos archetype from Greek mythology, and then there's this communist steelworker who falls in love with the opera - that's the story I'm telling really," he says. "I know what it's like to be an outsider, I know what it's like to be working class and entering the halls of the bourgeois. It's our story really."

The tenets of tragic opera would naturally hold a dire fate for lovers from disparate worlds like Dionysos and Lily. But when the ghosts of Carmen, Butterfly and Norma visit Dionysos in his sleep singing "Opera always kills its lovers," Dionysos brushes off their calls for a proper opero-tragic suicide. "He doesn't want anything to do with that Valhalla tradition celebrating tragedy, pain and death," says Teodori. "And neither do I." It's one of the opera's more effective conceits, and Nieve's arias shine with what one applauding critic called "a true musicologist's reflection on the themes of Bizet, Bellini and Puccini."

Directed by Wolfgang Doerner, the production is self-assuredly modern - not by strident atonalism, but rather through the fertile mixing of jazz, opera, rock and electronica, punctuated by moving, ethereal intermezzos by onstage jazz instrumentalists improvising over the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris. While Le Monde had little appetite for this musical "soup", the Journal de Dimanche was eager for more. "In the breach between rock-pop and opera, [Nieve] invented something new," said the paper's critic. "Despite its faults, this innovation, far superior to all the musical comedies in the works, deserves to be saluted."

Costello and Sting's performances had their faults - including a good handful of wayward notes. But while commissioner Costello stormed around stage brazenly belting his lines, and Sting swooned in the arms of Schwartz's delicious diva during their final stirring - and harmonious - duet, they were clearly reveling in this escape from the confines of the pop-rock genre. "For me it's always good to put yourself outside your comfort zone," says Sting. "As an artist, it's vital to have that kind of experience to grow, otherwise you're trapped in a box. Being in the box is never really interesting - I like to step outside of it, even at the risk of personal failure." The French critics may not agree, but with its easy juxtaposition of styles and obstinately hopeful narrative, 'Welcome to the Voice' does make for a decidedly modern opera. And judging from the packed houses and endless ovations during its five-night Paris run, it seems the vox populi, at least, has declared it a success.

© Time by Jeffrey T. Iverson

Sting, Costello, but No Fat Lady...

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:10:06 -0500

What do you after wrapping up the biggest rock tour of the last two years? After all in August Sting finished the grueling 18 month worldwide reunion of The Police that grossed way over $300 million. This week it spawned the bestselling concert video as well.

Most rock stars would just go home and relax. Not Sting. Last night at the landmark Theatre du Chatelet in Paris he opened in an opera - yes, an opera, a real opera - written by Elvis Costello's long time musical director Stevie Nieve and his wife Muriel Teodori, and co-starring Costello and the eldest Sting progeny, Fiction Plane leader Joe Sumner.

Among the aficionados who turned out for the occasion: British pop legend Marianne Faithful, and film directors Mike Figgis and JP Davidson. Mrs. Sting - Trudie Styler - was front and center, as well, with actress daughter Mickey and newly minted best selling writer from the UK Simon Astaire ("Private Privilege").

It was quite an occasion too as Sting had only on the night before performed a showcase of music on the lute in the very same theater, playing selections from his album, 'Songs from the Labyrinth'. He heads out next week to showcase this material on a tour of Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and other far flung locales.

Like I said, he could have just gone home.

But the opera, called 'Welcome to the Voice', has been percolating for some time since Nieve and Teodori began workshopping it more than eight years ago. It was only when Costello and his band decided to join The Police on tour this year that the idea hatched for Sting to participate in the recording of Welcome to the Voice (already out on CD) but to put on a professionally staged version of it here.

The lead role of Dionysos could not be more perfect for Sting, who hasn't acted in legit theater since his successful turn in 'The Threepenny Opera' on Broadway nearly two decades ago. Dionysos is a romantic lead, a Greek steel worker who falls in love with opera and dreams of being with three of its leading ladies: Carmen, Madama Butterfly, and Norma. Eventually he finds a real diva named Lily who entrances him just as much. The role, as defined by Sting incorporates not only his ever-expanding vocal range - impressive in a non rock setting - but his matinee idol good looks and athleticism.

Figgis, who directed Sting long ago in the cult movie, 'Stormy Monday', was visibly impressed (as was the audience, which gave the opening night cast a ten minute ovation). "Did I know back then that he could do this? The answer is Yes!"

Costello plays the local police commissioner, a comic character. Joe Sumner, Sting's eldest son, is his friend and enthusiast. In his black Russian hat and heavy greatcoat Costello looked like he was having a lot of fun up on stage even though he told me later he was battling a grippy flu. Sumner - whose voice is often compared favorably to his dad's-turns out to be a natural leading man on stage, a possible find for Broadway producers looking to cast their next rock musical.

But it was the women of "Welcome to the Voice" who really set the Theatre du Chatelet on fire. The gorgeous throated, sexy divas who played the "ghosts" of Dionysos's fevered fantasy were Marie-Ange Todorovitch as the "ghost" of Carmen, Sonya Yoncheva as Butterfly, and Anna Gabler as Norma. The magnificent Spanish singer Sylvia Schwartz won over not just a few hearts as Lily, Dionysos's "real" object of obsession.

We've come a long way since days of songs like 'Roxanne' and 'Alison', of narrow neck ties, and thundering power pop. And even though Sting and Costello can do that any time they want, and make millions to be sure, that's what makes "Welcome to the Voice": that much more of an achievement.

These two multi talented musicians may represent the last generation of rockers able to stretch beyond their original genres and take on other forms with so much success. (Costello has also performed with the Brodsky Quartet and a variety of pop and classical singers.) Bravo to both of them!

'Welcome to the Voice" continues in Paris through next week, all sold out to the top tiers of the Chatelet.

© Fox News by Roger Friedman

A night at the opera with Sting and Elvis...

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:35:16 -0500

A night at the opera with Sting and Elvis...

In a remarkable musical diversion, two of pop's biggest stars are treading the opera stage in Paris. They tell Neil McCormick why.

Sting sits in a cross-legged lotus position on a sofa, one arm raised, as he stretches his body. "Thanks for the boot in the back last night," he says. "That was a nice touch."

"You like the way I ground my heel in?" retorts Elvis Costello.

"When I'm lying there in fear and pain, I'm not acting," says Sting.

"It's in my contract," says Elvis. "I get to rough you up every night."

Sting and Costello have been rehearsing an opera. Veterans of the Seventies punk and new-wave movement, the two British stars have since established themselves among the most acclaimed and wide-ranging singer-songwriters in the world. But their new project promises to be something of a departure. From tomorrow, for five nights at the historic Théatre Du Chatelet in Paris, they make their debuts as operatic singers in the premiere of the extraordinary Welcome to the Voice.

"It is important sometimes to get outside your comfort zone just to see what happens," says Sting. "Neither of us has done this out of a sense that we're great enough to do opera now. We are here to learn something, but I think that about most things. We are here to learn about how we can expand what we do as rock singers."

"The biggest difference is running around the bloody stage doing stuff while trying to remember to sing the music," says Costello.

"In a frock," adds Sting.

"In a voluminous coat," Costello corrects him, referring to the huge black garment in which his character is perpetually swathed. "But that's OK. The coat is doing a lot of the acting."

The opera was composed by Costello's long-serving keyboard player, Steve Nieve, with a libretto by Nieve's wife, French writer and psychoanalyst Muriel Teodori. Sting plays the male lead, Dionysos, a working man whose love of opera and attraction to a diva (played by rising opera star Sylvia Schwartz) threatens the cultural status quo, as enforced by Costello's fascistic police chief of Police. Both lent their voices to last year's studio recording of the work, released by Deutsche Grammophon.

It is a compelling piece that mixes popular and operatic singing, embracing full orchestral arrangements, some electronic flavour and jazz spontaneity. Originally workshopped at a New York jazz festival in 2000, it has slowly made its way to the stage and is now a lavish, extravagantly designed production, directed by Wolfgang Doerner with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris.

"I am still a little incredulous to find myself here," says Sting. "If someone had asked me directly to star in an opera, my response would have been 'There is no way you are getting me in white tights'. I think we are required to bring some of the chaotic or spontaneous energy of rock to the piece, rather than stand there like operatic tenors and just sing. We are being asked to be ourselves in a way, volatile elements in this very precious form, interlopers in the opera."

"Actually it's as much a jump for the opera singers as it is for us," says Costello. More of an opera buff than Sting (with an unfinished opera of his own, The Secret Arias, workshopped as an oratorio by the Royal Danish Opera in 2005), Costello certainly understands the discipline. "Because it's a modern, untried piece, they are not on certain ground. They know it's a one-of-a-kind experience. They're good humoured about it - they've probably worked out that we're not going to turn up in their next production."

It is instructive to watch the different ways Costello and Sting occupy a room. Costello looks like an intellectual gangster, hunched in an armchair, stocky frame pressing tight against his jacket, pork-pie hat on his head, blue-lensed glasses hovering over a scruffy, red-tinged beard. He manages to convey an air of slovenly relaxation and tightly coiled energy at the same time. Naturally loquacious, he dominates the conversation. In commercial terms he comes nowhere near Sting, but as something of a musical polymath his senior status seems to go unchallenged.

Sting meanwhile seems graciously content to let his colleague run the conversation. In black trousers and tight sweater, with a thick, greying beard, he sits listening in a yoga position, occasionally interjecting in a soft voice. When Sting describes opera as "a fantastic art form that is more or less ignored by popular media because it is so elitist and so terrifyingly hermetically sealed," Costello argues to the contrary: "To some degree it's the other way around. Popular media has become very judgmental about opera. No one is actually barring your way from listening. Some rock and roll gigs are as expensive as the most expensive tickets in the opera house, so the idea it's elitist is absurd. Opera recordings are not more expensive than hip hop recordings. It's more about whether people are tuned into that kind of vocal production."

And he then digresses into an explanation of how operatic singing was developed to project into huge theatres, and how microphones changed everything. "There's a famous recording of [Al] Jolson and [Bing] Crosby singing together, and it's one of the most instructive things about the progress of singing in the 20th century because Jolson's still trying to hit the back wall, so he just sounds mad, while Bing is completely convincing, its like he's whispering in your ear."

"There's something about the proximity of the microphone when it's this close that is very sexual," suggests Sting. "You can hear the mouth working, and it's wet. Opera singers are too far away to really get intimate with."

"You can say that, but when Sylvia is singing and we are both called upon to react, it doesn't take a lot of acting," says Costello.

"She sings notes and I get levitated," Sting agrees.

"It's pretty affecting," says Costello. "Then again, we do have the best seats in the house."

The combination of curiosity, adventure and love of music that is driving these two stars to risk this experiment with opera is genuinely heartening. Fresh from one of the highest-grossing concert tours ever with the notoriously combative Police - it took $358 million - Sting seems to be enjoying the dynamics of an ensemble production. "They are very supportive," he says. "You come off stage and they are all hugging you."

"Just like the Police tour," says Costello, wryly.

"Exactly!" declares Sting, pulling a sour face.

© The Daily Telegraph by Neil McCormick

Théatre Chatelet (www.chatelet-theatre.com) from today to Nov 25. The 'Welcome to the Voice' CD is out on DG.

Sting in 'Welcome to the Voice' in Paris...

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:01:20 -0500

Following the highly successful Police reunion tour, Sting will take on a new and different challenge this November, as he takes to the stage in Paris for five performances of 'Welcome to the Voice', a work fusing rock and opera by composer Steve Nieve and librettist Mureil Teodori.

'Welcome to the Voice' was originally released by Deutsche Grammophon in 2007 and featured Barbara Bonney, Sting, and Elvis Costello. Both Sting and Elvis Costello will be performing the stage version at the Théatre du Chatelet beside Marie-Ange Todorovitch, Sylvia Schwartz and Joe Sumner, as "Friend of Dionysos," on 20, 21, 23, 24 and 25 November 2008. Tickets are available from www.fnac.com.

Steve Nieve, Elvis Costello's long-time pianist and music director, and Nieve's partner Muriel Teodori, a film/theatre director and psychoanalyst, began working on 'Welcome To The Voice' ten years ago. She wrote the libretto, he composed the music, and together they developed and shaped the project that is a work in homage to the human voice. 'Welcome To The Voice' is a multifaceted piece that welcomes voices from different musical worlds. It lives on the juxtaposition of men who have rough, untrained voices, coming from jazz or rock, with women who have classically trained voices. Apart from the music itself, the beauty of this project lies in the profound idealistic - even romantic - themes that transcend all levels of the work. The catchphrase is: "unlikely encounter". Seemingly opposing music genres, classes, artists, languages, and codes are unified in the name of love and art.

CAST & CREW:
Music - Steve Nieve
Libretto and Staging - Muriel Teodori
Musical Direction - Wolfgang Doerner
Choreographic Collaboration - Daniel Larrieu
Set Design - Bernard Arnould
Lighting Design - Jacques Rouveyrollis

Dionysos - Sting
Police chief - Elvis Costello
Friend of Dionysos - Joe Sumner
Diva Lily - Sylvia Schwartz
Ghost of Carmen - Marie-Ange Todorovitch
Ghost of Madame Butterfly - Sonya Yoncheva
Ghost of Norma - Anna Gabler
Ensemble orchestral de Paris Choeur du Chatelet
Coproduction Théatre du Chatelet and TS3 - Thierry Suc

Something to Sting about - Surprise...

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:50:38 -0500

Something to Sting about...

Surprise. That's what Sting tries to do each time he performs. And that's what he hopes the audience will feel when he takes the stage at the Esplanade Concert Hall next month.

"I think it's important to keep an element of surprise with your public, so they never know what to expect next," he told TODAY over the phone from England. "You just keep them intrigued."

The musician, who started his career 30 years ago as the singer/bassist for the post-punk rock group The Police, has always experimented with various styles of music, even in the early days of his career. So, while it was a surprise to learn that he'd be recording an album of 16th century Elizabethan music by English composer John Dowland called "Songs from the Labyrinth" in 2006, it really wasn't that surprising either.

He previously tackled musical genres like jazz, funk and world music, played around with unconventional time-signatures (he uses a 9/8 tempo on "I Hung My Head", for example), and worked with musicians from different backgrounds such as French percussionist Mino Cinelu, Indian sitar player Anoushka Shankar and Algerian singer Cheb Mami.

"I think I've done it enough times for them to go, 'Okay, we trust you, let's see where it takes us'," said Sting of his musical journey. "It's a very unlikely direction for me to be singing 16th century songs with a lute, but a lot of people have been intrigued by it and enjoyed the journey."

But he's not above being surprised by the reaction of his listening audience. "I had no idea that we would sell one million copies of the album! It was very much a labour of love for me, for my own curiosity rather than from a commercial prospect.

"I gave it to (record label) Deutsche Grammophon and I expected it to be kicked out of the door, but they said, 'We'll take it'. And I thought it would sell a few, but a million copies - that was a big surprise!"

Which brings us to his upcoming concert here. The Songs from the Labyrinth tour, which will be performed with Edin Karamazov on the lute (a traditional plucked string instrument), was interrupted by The Police's massive reunion tour that started last May and ended in August this year. The band performed here in February, but Sting said he doesn't mind revisiting a country so often, especially since it will be for something completely different.

Said Sting: "It's nice to come back to Singapore with music that's so different from the last time when I played with The Police. We played a very big place last time.

"This music is in an intimate venue. There're no smoke and mirrors, no big noise. It's intense and theatrical. I've got a feeling the Singapore audience is going to appreciate that proximity and intimacy."

Here then, in his own words, is the man's thoughts on his new musical direction.

What can people expect for this 16th century Elizabethan show?

It's a pretty intense performance and you have to concentrate a great deal. It's like tightrope walking - without a safety net. There's nothing to hide behind - there really isn't.

But we've been doing this tour for a year before The Police (reunion tour), so we're pretty much up to speed with this. In the main set, I perform the songs of John Dowland, but in the encore I do loads of other English songwriters like Henry Purcell, Elgar, The Beatles and myself.

But why songs on a lute?

To try and draw a parallel - Dowland's music has a kind of DNA, and (I'm trying) to follow that DNA from the 16th century to the present day. Played on the lute, The Beatles, Elgar and myself, you can recognise an affinity with John Dowland. You can dress (songs) up with massive harmonies and layers, but ... I like to perform songs the way I wrote them, just on the guitar.

So "Roxanne" or "Message in a Bottle" sound really good to me just with voice and guitar - which is a bit like Dowland's music. That's how I like it, just bare bones. That's the beautiful thing about music - you can do whatever you like with it. It's there to play with. But my thing is to strip things down to its Zen-like skeleton.

Speaking of Zen-like, is simplicity your goal in life?

I try to live a simple life, although my life is fairly complex now, considering how many cities I live in, how I travel all the time and the different things I do. But I try to keep it as simple and human as possible.

And I've been on tour since 1975, so I'm kind of used to (travelling). If anything, the skill of staying in one place for a long period of time is something that I haven't really managed to develop yet. I'd like to settle down. But then I'd miss touring and travelling. So I'm like the (mythical ghost ship) Flying Dutchman, I'm always travelling.

Can you describe yourself in five words or less?

No. I'm probably a bunch of opposites: Humble, pretentious, tough, cowardly, all those things. You name the quality - I've got the opposite. Absolutely.

What's the most pretentious thing you've done?

Well... I don't think being pretentious is a particularly bad thing. We only grow up pretending to grow up - we're role-playing really.

What's the best thing about being Sting?

I have no choice, do I? (Laughs) I've led a very charmed life. I'm very fortunate and very grateful for my life. Is there a downside? No, I'm very happy to be me! I wouldn't change a damn thing. I've made mistakes but you learn from your mistakes.

Don't you ever tire of singing these old songs over and over again?

It's my job to sing songs (I wrote) 25 years ago with the same intensity and energy as if I'd written them in the afternoon.

That's my job. And I think I do my job very well! And it's also my job to sing songs from the 16th century and do them with the same energy as if they were written today. Music is its own reward. You don't need the Grammys, you don't need the platinum discs, you don't need anything more than the music itself. That's enough for me!

Really? So can you give me one of your many Grammys when you're here?

No problem. I won't miss it!

What will you do when the music's over?

Well, I have a nice garden. I can sit and watch the grass grow.

© TODAY/Channelnewsasia.com by Christopher Toh

Remember that fan club members can win tickets to see Sting and Edin in Singapore as well as on several other dates on the Asia/Australia tour by visiting this page.

'The Police: Certifiable' DVD now in stores!

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:56:11 -0500

Police fans, get ready to relive all the sights and sounds of The Police world tour. "The Police: Certifiable," DVD featuring the band's entire performance from one especially hot night of music in Buenos Aires, Argentina is out now.

Fans in the United States can purchase "The Police: Certifiable" exclusively at Best Buy retail locations and BestBuy.com. For The Police fans in the UK, stop by The Police UK Store to pre-order your copy today - fans outside of the US & UK, head to The Police International Store to buy yours now.

In addition to the entire concert from Riverplate Stadium in Buenos Aires, "The Police: Certifiable" includes a 50-minute bonus feature, "Better Than Therapy," directed by Jordan Copeland. The feature details the entire historic run of The Police, complete with behind-the-scenes interviews with the band and crew, and a pair of photo galleries of The Police on tour, one by guitarist/photographer Andy Summers, and one by famed rock photographer Danny Clinch.

Get your copy in one of a number of different formats so that all fans can choose their favorite and enjoy "The Police: Certifiable" as it was meant to be played. The DVD Edition features the entire concert and the behind-the-scenes featurette on two DVDs, and the full double CD of the new live album from Buenos Aires.

For the fans who want the best concert experience possible in their own homes, choose the Blu-Ray Edition - enjoy the concert footage and featurette presented in stunning 1080 HD picture quality, plus Dolby True HD and Dolby Digital surround and stereo sound, and receive the 2-CD live album as well.

Or, for the fans who prefer hearing The Police on their turntables, get the full album on vinyl - 3 pieces of heavy weight, 180-gram vinyl, a wine spine gatefold jacket, and even an insert redeemable for a free mp3 download of the album.

Whichever way you choose to enjoy "The Police: Certifiable," be sure to order your copy today.

Rock out with Sting on Guitar Hero World Tour!

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:00:01 -0500

Sting lends voice and likeness to Guitar Hero World Tour - available in stores now. Game features a live recording of 'Demolition Man'...

Rock and roll legend Sting and progressive metal pioneers Tool are making their video game debuts, contributing more than just music, in Activision Publishing, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero® World Tour.

In what will be the largest collection of artists ever to appear in a Guitar Hero game, singer-songwriter, actor, author, activist and lead singer/bassist of The Police, Sting will add his voice and likeness as an in-game character. Aspiring frontmen can take the stage as Sting throughout their vocal career or play alongside him as he performs one of The Police classics, "Demolition Man".

Hugely popular alternative metal band Tool, known for their epic, intense musical arrangements and killer visual arts, will also soon be known for their contribution to the upcoming Guitar Hero World Tour. Guitar Hero fans from all over the world will be able to rock out to "Parabola" and Grammy-award winning "Schism" from Tool's critically-acclaimed 2001 album Lateralus in addition to "Vicarious" from their 2006 Grammy-award winning album 10,000 Days. The game will also feature an all-new venue designed in collaboration with the band and highlighting the art style that has become a staple in their music videos, live shows and album artwork.

When the house lights go down this fall, a new generation of guitarists, drummers and fearless frontmen will come together and rock with Guitar Hero World Tour. The latest installment in the #1 best-selling video game franchise of 2007, Guitar Hero World Tour transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero's signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless controllers with new revolutionary online* and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player "Battle of the Bands", which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online for the first time ever. The game features a slick newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller and a microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock 'n' roll anthems. Music creators will also be able to share their recordings with their friends online through GHTunesSM where other gamers can download and play an endless supply of unique creations.

Guitar Hero World Tour is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. The Wii™ version is being developed by Vicarious Visions. The PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system version is being developed by Budcat. The game is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Guitar Hero World Tour, please visit www.guitarhero.com.

Check out this "making of" video...

About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision Publishing maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision Publishing and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Activision Publishing generally uses words such as "outlook", "will," "could," "would," "might," "remains," "to be," "plans," "believes", "may", "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimate," future," "plan," "positioned," "potential," "project," "remain," "scheduled," "set to," "subject to," "upcoming" and similar expressions to help identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales of Activision Publishing's titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, Activision Publishing's ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision Publishing's products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, litigation against Activision Publishing, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, vendors and third-party developers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions and policies, foreign exchange rates, integration of recent acquisitions and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, Activision Blizzard's success in integrating the operations of Activision Publishing and Vivendi Games in a timely manner, or at all, and the combined company's ability to realize the anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction to the extent, or in the timeframe, anticipated. Other such factors include additional risk factors identified in Activision Blizzard's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

*Online gameplay is only available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ and may require an additional subscription.

© 2008 Activision Publishing, Inc. Guitar Hero, Activision and RedOctane are registered trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

"PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION" and "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Used with Permission. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Wii and the Wii logo are trademarks of Nintendo.

Sting on BBC Television, Nov 7/8 and on-line...

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:11:24 -0500

BBC News Correspondent Nick Higham caught up with Sting and Edin Karamazov when they were recently in London rehearsing 'Songs from the Labyrinth' as they prepare to perform in Australia and the Far East later this month. This coincides with the release of a special edition of the album, across the World and in the UK.

Nick talks to them about John Dowland, and asks Sting what attracted him about the songs.

Watch BBC World News on Friday, 7 November and BBC Breakfast in the UK (BBC1) on Saturday, 8 November.

For an unique insight into playing the lute, watch a tutorial with Sting online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7714354.stm, available from Friday, 7 November.

Sting tells city's story in art...

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:14:49 -0400

The singer Sting has made a rare return to his home city to tell its story on canvas rather than in music or lyrics.

The former frontman of the Police commissioned one of America's most sought-after artists to paint a portrait of Newcastle.

The 57 year-old grew up in Wallsend in the east of the city with its landscape dominated by ship building.

The painting is the story of Newcastle's regeneration from heavy industry to cultural hotspot.

Northern City Renaissance' is also the singer's story, with memories from his life in the city.

There are pictures of him as a young boy clad in the yellow and black jumper which gave him his name - Sting.

The painting hangs in Newcastle's Laing Gallery. At his first viewing he explained why he had commissioned the American landscape artist and Oscar winner Stephen Hannock to paint the city.

"I've known Steve for about 25 years. I had a hunch that if I brought him to Newcastle he would be inspired by my home town, by this landscape," he said.

"He surprised me because he really immersed himself in the local culture and the history of the mines and the shipyards, all that information is in the painting.

"I think he has captured the spirit of something I still consider my home, I still consider it the landscape of my imagination."

The painting is 12 feet by eight. It shows the glowing lights of pit villages in the distance and the more central ship yards which used to block out the sunshine around Sting's childhood home.

Among the more personal memories are images of Sting and his family visiting the city. In many ways the work is part diary, part biography.

"He's told our story in this painting," Sting said.

"He's really got the history of the place and why Newcastle became a wonderful successful town in the industrial revolution."

In amongst the historical references are more contemporary images - such as the Millennium bridge and the Baltic Art gallery which now dominate the city's quayside.

Newcastle is a city transformed in recent years, with a strong focus on cultural attractions. It is a change the musician approves of.

He recalled his early brushes with art at the Laing Gallery.

"I used to come here as a boy for two reasons, because it was free and because it was quiet. Of course the idea that a lad from Wallsend would one day commission a painting on one of these walls would be beyond the bounds of absurdity but my life has been equally fanciful as well as unlikely," he said.

The painting will hang at the gallery for the next three months. It will then be displayed in London.

Its long term future is not yet clear but it is likely to adorn the wall in one of Sting's homes.

© BBC News by Raymond Buchanan

Dominic Miller new album with Peter Kater and live dates coming up...

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:01 -0400

On the new album 'In A Dream', multi-Grammy Award Nominees, pianist Peter Kater, and guitarist Dominic Miller dissolve the borders between guitar and piano; classical and jazz; simple and complex. Soulful cello by Jaques Morelenbaum and lush vocal harmonies by Kenny Loggins add to this stunning album of acoustic instrumental compositions. A recording this beautiful comes along only once in a long while.

Listen to some excerpts from the album at http://www.dominicmiller.com/ and order the album from http://www.peterkater.com/.

Dominic also has a number of dates coming up in the next couple of months if anyone fancies catching up with what he's been up to recently.

There are dates with his own band in Paris, Berlin, Leverkausen, Dresden, Aalen and Munster, dates with Sarah Jane Morris in Italy and Colombia (in 2009), some solo dates in Croatia and Italy, and a date next week in London with Antonio Forcione, Richard Bona and Guy Pratt.

For details of these dates and ticket information visit www.dominicmiller.com.

Sting and Trudie honoured at the Oceana Partners Award Gala - Sting performed a surprise set with a little help from Lyle Workman and Dustin Hoffman...

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:31 -0400

On October 18, the 2008 Oceana Partners Award Gala was held in Los Angeles to honour former President Bill Clinton, Sting, and Trudie Styler. Attending the event were a host of famous faces including Dustin Hoffman, Kirsten Dunst, Adrian Grenier, Katharine McPhee, Zach Braff, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, Barbara Streisand and James Brolin, Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith, Diane Keaton, Rosanna Arquette, Kristin Chenoweth, Melissa George, Arriana Huffington, Laura Dern and Ben Harper, Norman Lear, Sarah Paulsen, Laird Hamilton, Sugar Ray Leonard, Karina Petroni and Lisa Anderson.

Trudie and Sting were given honours for their work with the Rainforest Foundation organization for which they have raised more than $25 million with their benefit concerts since 1989.

Guests were treated to a special four song surprise performance by Sting who performed 'Fragile', 'Message In A Bottle', 'Every Breath You Take', and 'Shoot The Breeze' with Dustin Hoffman. It was also nice to see Lyle Workman playing guitar with Sting again for the first time since 2006.

Over $1.3 million was raised for Oceana from the evening's festivities!

Oceana campaigns to protect and restore the world's oceans. Its teams of marine scientists, economists, lawyers and advocates win specific and concrete policy changes to reduce pollution and to prevent the irreversible collapse of fish populations, marine mammals and other sea life. Global in scope and dedicated to conservation, Oceana's campaigners are based in North America (Washington, DC; New York, NY; Boston, MA; St. Petersburg, FL; Juneau and Anchorage, AK; Monterey, CA; and Portland, OR), Europe (Madrid, Spain; Brussels, Belgium) and South America (Santiago, Chile). Recently, the US Government - after campaigning by Oceana - adopted the Oceana approach and closed 1.8 million square kilometers of Pacific ocean to destructive trawling, an area more than four times the size of California. Oceana was prominently featured in the 2008 Green Issue of Vanity Fair, and was also named last year by Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine as a "charity that deserves your dollars."

In 2001, Oceana merged with the American Ocean's Campaign (AOC), which was founded in 1987 by Ted Danson. Each year, the AOC and now Oceana have held events in Los Angeles which have honored individuals who have made outstanding contributions through their personal commitment to the cause of protecting and conserving our environment. These events are attended by hundreds of guests from the entertainment, business, and philanthropic communities. Past Partners Awards honorees include Pierce Brosnan & Keely Shaye Smith, James Cameron, Stephen McPherson, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, Annett Wolf, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Christopher Reeve, Lynn and Sam Waterston, Rick Nicita, Keith Addis, Irving Azoff, Sir John Browne, Don Henley, Cindy and Alan Horn, Sylvia Earle, Michael King, Ted Turner, Jean-Michel Cousteau and Toyota Motor Sales. Last year, Oceana honored Dr. Daniel Pauly and Former Vice President Al Gore whose award was presented by Anjelica Huston. Presenters in previous years have included Salma Hayek, Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ron Meyer and Jamie Lee Curtis. For more information on Oceana, please visit www.oceana.org.

Sting interview: Courier Mail...

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:29:24 -0400

Sting finds lute after a fond farewell with The Police...

Sting has an insatiable addiction to adulation.

He has spent three decades touring the world and has just completed one of the biggest roadshows in rock history - this year's The Police reunion extravaganza - so the 57-year-old Brit could be forgiven for taking time out to relax at his Tuscan villa.

Instead, Sting is on his way back to Australia for yet another tour, this time with his classical album, 'Songs From The Labyrinth'.

Two lute players (lutenists) - Sting and the world-renowned master of the instrument, Edin Karamazov - will pay tribute to the late 16th-century Elizabethan composer John Dowland.

"I have been on the road since 1975. It is my life," Sting tells The Sunday-Mail in an exclusive interview.

"I have a lovely family and lovely homes everywhere but I like touring," he says. "It is my lifeblood, really. I can't imagine life without it. You can feel tired and exhausted and a bit depleted, and you walk out in front of an audience, no matter how big, 80,000 people or 100, it doesn't matter, you walk out there and they give you this amazing shot in the arm of enthusiasm and welcome.

"It is a very hard thing to give up. It is a lovely thing walking out on stage and seeing people genuinely pleased to see you and generally willing to hear what you have to say and sing. I don't want to give that up. It is wonderful."

Sting - born Gordon Sumner - telephones Event from London, where he is taking a few days' break. There's none of the usual superstar palaver. Sting places the call himself and immediately apologises for having a cold-induced croaky voice.

It's all part of his reluctance to embrace celebrity, says the father of six who is married to actor/producer Trudie Styler.

"I don't have all these minders, 'posses' as they are called," he says. "I lead as normal a life as I can - a very charmed life, I have to say, but it is normal. I don't cocoon myself with all of this security and nonsense... I don't need to."

Sting is full of enthusiasm for the two lutenists' tribute to Dowland: "It is a complete antidote to all of that gigantism of playing to hundreds of thousands of people.

"The Police tour played to something like 3.7 million people. This tour we (will be doing) in Australia is sold out but it is the Sydney Opera House and venues like that, much more intimate, much more intense. The audience is very close."

Smaller crowds - such as the one which will be in Brisbane City Hall - are tougher than giant stadiums, he says.

"In many ways it is more difficult to entertain people that closely. But it is a challenge I relish," he says.

"You are very close, there is no safety net, there is no huge light show to hide behind. There is no smoke, no mirrors; it is really just music and a very intense kind of music and demanding music at the same time. It is a great contrast to all of that rock 'n' roll razzamatazz."

Speaking of which, this year's Police tour - their first after a 24-year break - was the third-most-successful international tour of all time, behind the Rolling Stones and U2.

By the time The Police played their final show on August 7 at Madison Square Garden in New York, they had played to nearly four million people, with ticket sales grossing about $A535 million.

But the band will never perform again, Sting vows.

"It was a great farewell. I don't think we overdid it. My instinct that it would be timely was correct. It was one of the biggest tours ever. I am very happy about that.

"I think we got to achieve what the Americans call closure because the Police never really finished, we just did other things. I think we have done it now."

After the classical tour comes another risky gig: a new opera, in which he will perform with close friend Elvis Costello, who plays the chief of police.

"I play a steel worker who falls in love with the opera, much to the chagrin of his communist friends," Sting says. "But when (Costello) suggested we do an opera, I said, 'I am not going to wear tights'."

As a solo artist, Sting has sold millions of albums the world over and had hits with the likes of 'Fields of Gold', 'Englishmen in New York', and 'We'll Be Together'.

His latest release topped the Billboard classical charts, and critics lauded the album as one of his best ever. But for Sting, what started out as a small side project was an opportunity to show his fans he isn't just a pop singer.

"Surprise is important, to keep surprising people with what you attempt," he says.

"You can fail. Failure doesn't matter, but it is important to try new things. I am not the kind of bloke who just wants to churn out the same thing, year in and year out.

"I can do that but I also want to try other things as well."

Sting isn't sure what his next surprise will be but is planning to begin work on another solo album.

Apart from adulation, Sting says his driving force is curiosity.

"I am curious about music. I am curious about the world and what we are doing. I think music has an important place, especially reflective music. I think we need to reflect a lot."

Despite years of touring Australia, Sting has had to wait until now for an invitation to play his most coveted venue, the Sydney Opera House.

"This is a huge fantasy of mine," he says.

© Courier Mail by Jonathan Moran

Sting presents 'Songs From The Labyrinth' live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:31 -0400

An Axcellent Production are proud to present Sting in concert, performing with Edin Karamazov and Stile Antico, in support of a special edition of the critically-acclaimed album, 'Songs from the Labyrinth' - a personal tribute to late 16th-century Elizabethan composer, John Dowland (1563-1626).

'Songs from the Labyrinth' began as a Deutsche Grammophon recording project in 2006 which surpassed all expectations by debuting at the top of the classical charts in the US, UK, France, Canada & Germany. The album remained on Billboard's #1 classical charts for fifteen consecutive weeks and was the top selling classical album of both 2006 and 2007.

Sting was first introduced to the music of John Dowland in the early 1980s, and has said that Dowland's music has been "gently haunting" him for more than twenty years.

Edin Karamazov, a protégé of the legendary conductor Sergiu Celibidache, has been Sting's partner in this project from its conception.

Also joining Sting and Edin Karamazov on this tour is the British a cappella choir Stile Antico, who are featured in all the European performances of 'Songs from the Labyrinth' to date, giving vocal accompaniment to some of the more raucous tavern songs and gentle lullabies that are found in Dowland's wide-ranging music.

Who: Sting & Edin Karamazov
Date: December 7, 2008
Time: 8:30 PM
Venue: KL Convention Centre, Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur
Price: from MYR380

Tickets are available at axcess hotline: 03-7711-5000 or visit www.axcess.com.my for more info.

TOUR ITINERARY

30 Nov 2008 - Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney
01 Dec 2008 - City Hall, King George Square, Brisbane
03 Dec 2008 - The Arts Centre, Hamer Hall, Melbourne
05 Dec 2008 - Concert Hall, Perth
07 Dec 2008 - KL Convention Centre (Plenary Hall), Kuala Lumpur
08 Dec 2008 - Esplanade Hall, Singapore
10 Dec 2008 - Jockey Club, Hong Kong
16 Dec 2008 - Orchard Hall, Tokyo
17 Dec 2008 - Orchard Hall, Tokyo
18 Dec 2008 - Orchard Hall, Tokyo
20 Dec 2008 - Festival Hall, Osaka
21 Dec 2008 - Yokohama Pacifico, Yokohama