Rude guests, but a magnificent Sting: Regensburg has never seen anything like it!

Anyone expecting an overly gaudy global star was quickly disabused: Sting's performance in the courtyard of St. Emmeram Castle was a stellar moment, and the musician arrived in excellent spirits – only the unpunctuality of some guests caused some irritation.

Even Princess Gloria wasn't sure if she would actually be able to meet the global star backstage. Artists in this category have their idiosyncrasies; just think of Elton John's performance in Regensburg. But the man who arrived was not only a paragon of professionalism, but also a truly likeable figure. Wearing a T-shirt, he greeted the Princess in the castle, they took a photo, and had a polite conversation.
 

What has unfortunately been rude is something we've experienced repeatedly in recent days, starting with the premiere of Aida: The fantastic atmosphere and ambiance kept numerous guests waiting for their drinks. This is particularly annoying given the tight seating, and the up-and-down movement is irritating. And Sting didn't care that not everyone was there yet: He simply started! He started promptly at 8:30, stopped at 10:00 sharp, and immediately came on stage for an encore that lasted exactly 15 minutes. The Englishman not only seems to be following a sophisticated diet and exercise program; Sting was born in 1952 and looks in top shape. No, starry airs and excesses seem alien to him.

And what he and his band, which also includes Sting's son Joe Sumner, performed was probably the best thing anyone in Regensburg has ever heard at the Castle Festival. You know how it is: Some global stars come and primarily play their new album, because they want to sell it, but the fans want to hear the hits from yesteryear. Sting had no arrogance about it: He started singing "Englishman in New York" on the third song, and then it all came thick and fast. "Fields of Gold," "Desert Rose," "Roxanne," "Message in a Bottle," "Every Little Things She Does Is Magic"—he played them all. It's incredible how many number one hits Sting has sung in his more than 30 years on stage.

Finally, a touching moment came when he ceded the stage to his son Joe. It was also touching because Sting's son Joe performed a tribute to one of Sting's great colleagues, who died of cancer last year: David Bowie. Sumner played Bowie's legendary "Ashes to Ashes," a great moment, truly great.

The Castle Festival has changed dramatically over the past 15 years. What began as a purely classical music series has long since become a top-notch pop and rock event. It's the mix that makes it. With Sting, what you can experience in Regensburg's wonderful castle courtyard reached an absolute peak. Regensburg has never seen anything as grand as this Sting concert.

(c) Wochenblatt by Christian Eck