The Musician Sting - The Album Symphonicities - A Re-Imagining Of Some Of His Most Well Loved Songs

The end of July 2010 will see Sting and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra (UK) finish his Symphonicities tour in the USA. Then a European tour kicking off in September 2010.

Symphonicities, the new studio album version of the tour released on the 13th July 2010. This album is a orchestral concept and re-imagining of some of his best and most well known songs from both during his era as part of the punk and reggae inspired rock band The Police and music from his Grammy Award winning solo career.

The album showcases his music using classical symphonic compositions, providing a 'grander' feel of the music, yet very familiar enough to immediately recognize the song. It also provides an interesting aspect to those of us who now, more than likely appreciate orchestral music, but were those of that generation that 'grew up' with The Police and Stings music from the 1980's through to now.

This now hallmarks 24 studio albums across his solo career (including compilations, and other companion albums) there seems no rest for the 58 years young Englishman from Wallsend. Never one to shy away from a challenge, although this current album is by no means a big departure from his previous work, most artists usually try the big band or orchestral approach with other peoples material, and I feel that with Sting covering his own work, brings something fresh, yet reminiscent of the originals.

Definitely a great album.

Now that the North American tour is complete and the European tour is nearing its end, Sting will be touring through the Pacific, kicking off in Japan for January and thence Australia & New Zealand.

Japan

January 13 2011 - Osaka
January 14 2011 - Nagoya
January 17 2011 - Tokyo
January 18 2011 - Tokyo

Australia
January 22 2011 - Perth
January 26 2011 - Adelaide
January 28 2011 - Melbourne ( I hope this writer gets his hands on tickets for this one:) & I did, as of today 4th November 2011, I have purchased a ticket. Very glad I was able to get a hold of it as I do not know, and one never knows about these things, that Sting may not appear live in this part of the world again. If that is the case, then I have this opportunity to see him live this time around, woot. )
January 31 2011 - Sydney
February 01 2011 - Sydney
February 05 2011 - Hunter Valley
February 07 2011 - Brisbane

New Zealand
February 10 2011 - Christchurch
February 12 2011 - Napier

More locations and dates announced if and when made available.

Sting made his appearance for the Melbourne concert with his usual suspects, Dominic Miller and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on Friday 28th January 2011. Sting commenced on stage and was straight into 'If I ever Lose My Faith In You', and then after said Hello Melbourne.

From a dark and stormy version of 'Russians' and lots of Police classics such as 'Roxanne', 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic', 'King Of Pain & 'Every Breath You Take, intersperse these with solo efforts of 'Englishman In New York', 'Why Should I Cry For You', 'Mad About You' & 'Moon Over Bourbon Street' he had also told us a story about writing words and music and how Sting was influenced with life events and his experience on how he comes up with what he writes about. Take the subject of love, I love you and you love me is not really interesting, but I love you and you love someone else deepens and tells more of a spell binding story for us. That is his style of writing words and music.

I cannot fault either Sting or the MSO, it was from a musical perspective as an audience member a stunning concert and I am at the right 'age' to appreciate this approach to Stings style of this concert. Each song was great, 'Fragile' was dedicated to all in Victoria and especially Queensland whom have been having a tough time with floods across each state (Cyclone Yasi had not hit at this time) and the concert ended with a solo guitar version of 'Message In A Bottle' done in true rock and roll concert fashion.

The one gripe I do have is I wondered if there were any sound engineers on site that night, being an open air concert does not lend well for orchestral music to come to the masses. A concert like this needs great support from amplifiers and speakers enough for all. Concert truists of allowing natural sound to travel, were not sitting where up to a fifth of concert attendees left by the 3rd or 4th song. I certainly have been put of not with the MSO or with Sting as a performer, but definitely with the venue of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Here are a couple of gems from the album. Two of my favourites from the cd release. They are a much broader version of their original releases. It is amazing what a difference lyrics and music sound like from an original of a 3 piece rock band to a full symphony orchestra.