Summer: 2016

Sting played his greatest hits at the Forest Opera...

This concert must have been a dream come true for almost every Sting fan – in the charming atmosphere of Sopot's Forest Opera, the musician played his greatest hits. Despite the very high ticket prices, the entire auditorium was packed.

It was a nearly two-hour musical marathon featuring Sting's greatest hits. The Englishman played both his solo songs and, of course, those composed while Gordon Matthew Sumner led the band The Police. The audience, who came to the Forest Opera on Tuesday evening, heard twenty-one songs. It's difficult to say which ones evoked the most emotion, as the audience was brimming with enthusiasm and joy throughout almost the entire performance. At times, it seemed as if the seats in the Forest Opera audience were actually in the way, and they would have preferred to go down to the stage to dance to their idol's music.

Sting began wordlessly with "Every Breath You Take," only to address the audience with a thunderous greeting in Polish: "Good morning, Sopot." Almost every subsequent song was greeted with applause and shouts of joy. The audience heard songs such as "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You," "Fields of Gold," and "The Hounds of Winter." Sting also performed "Shape of My Heart," "Englishman in New York," and a bravura rendition of "Roxanne," with which he closed the concert proper. As an encore, fans heard "Desert Rose" and the ballad "Fragile," which calmed the frenetic rock show.

The sound system was excellent, and the performances were flawless – Sting came to Sopot with a well-coordinated band, including two drummers, a guitarist, a pianist, a violinist, and a vocalist. The Englishman created a great atmosphere in the audience not only with his music. Throughout the concert, he maintained contact with the adoring audience, thanking them several times in Polish, giving the audience a voice in the choruses, and telling stories about his uncle who came from Poland.

"Uncle Stanisław was always proud of his country and missed it. And this, in turn, is a song about my homeland," he said, introducing the Genesis hit "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight," whose intro served as the intro to "Message in a Bottle." Earlier, he paid tribute to his friend Peter Gabriel by performing "Shock the Monkey" with his son. A cover of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" was also a surprise.

Tuesday's concert at the Forest Opera wasn't just a meeting with a great rock star, but also a rare opportunity to hear live some of the most important songs in the history of popular music. It's no wonder, then, that despite the exceptionally high ticket prices (the cheapest one cost 349 PLN), the audience filled the entire auditorium, and those who couldn't get in enjoyed the concert outside the Opera House gates.

(c) Trojmiasto by Łukasz Stafiej

The Forest Opera was delighted. Sting gave a fantastic concert in Sopot...

The Forest Opera was filled with one of the world's most distinctive voices on Tuesday. Compositions such as "Englishman in New York," "Message in the Bottle," and "Every Breath You Take" are known worldwide. Sting put on a truly impressive performance in Sopot.

Sting is one of the most respected artists in pop music. You might think his peak years are over. Nothing could be further from the truth. During the concert, he displayed 100% professionalism and charisma. The thunderous applause and encore only confirmed this.

Before Sting's performance, his son, Joe Sumner, played support. The intimate atmosphere and excellent repertoire captivated the audience. He performed with members of his father's band – a female vocalist and a brass musician who played the cajon. He immediately stole the hearts of the audience, asking in a strong foreign accent, "How are you?" Everyone had a great time – the thunderous applause confirmed it.

If Sting ever decides to retire from music, his son could easily replace him. Their voices are almost indistinguishable.

As befits a Brit, Sting began the concert promptly. He greeted them with "Dzień Dobry Sopot," immediately explaining that he didn't speak any Polish. This, however, didn't deter the enthusiastic crowd. He immediately captivated some of the audience with his most famous song, "Every Breath You Take." The hit that took him global with The Police was a great warm-up.

His repertoire interspersed hits with lesser-known songs. When the atmosphere seemed to be cooling, the sounds of recognizable melodies would resonate on stage. This was the case with "Message in the Bottle," preceded by a Peter Gabriel song performed by Sting.

Sting established a wonderful rapport with the audience, encouraging them to sing along. It was like a tennis match, with the artist "serving" simple vocal lines, which the audience "reflected." This pattern continued throughout several of the more well-known songs.

Another lovely touch was the introduction of the band members. Each of them had a solo part on each song. This demonstrated the talent Sting collaborates with. The audience was captivated by the violinist, pianist, and backing vocalist, who were showered with applause and cheers.

You might think Sting wrote the most famous songs of his solo career in the 1990s. Despite this, he refreshed these songs with original arrangements or by inserting snippets of other songs. This was the case with the famous "Roxanne" – the first popular hit during The Police's career. When the audience was suddenly swept off their feet, they heard Bill Withers' hit "Ain't No Sunshine." From the aggressive beat, the audience moved to a more mellow rhythm. This combination was a perfect match.

This is one of the most popular songs of Sting's solo career. "Englishman in New York" literally brought the entire Sopot audience to their feet. Everyone clapped and sang along. For the next half hour, no one sat down.

Sting was so impressed by the Sopot audience that he was called in for an encore. He performed three famous songs, concluding the set with the atmospheric "Fragile." This created a truly nostalgic atmosphere. There was a slight sense of sadness as the concert drew to a close. After the song, all the musicians, including the headliner, came to the stage and expressed their gratitude for such a warm welcome. Sting turned to the audience several times and bowed. After finishing the song, all the musicians, including the main artist, came to the stage and expressed their gratitude for such a warm welcome. Sting turned to the audience several times and bowed. After leaving the stage, the audience applauded for a long time, hoping to get the artist back on stage. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful.

This was one of the best concerts of the year so far. Artists like this should visit the Forest Opera more often.

 (c) Radio Gdansk