Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, better known by his stage name Sting, is an acclaimed singer, musician, author of rock ballads worshipped by several generations, producer, film actor, art patron, public activist, protector of tropical forests, and a true knight, for one of his numerous awards is the Order of the British Empire. In short, he is undoubtedly a cult personality of the 20th and 21st centuries with so many images that it is difficult to enumerate them.
The musician promises to sing in Kyiv his popular hits (among them “Roxanne” which catapulted his first group The Police to fame, and the no less known “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You,” “Shape of my Heart,” “Desert Rose,” and, naturally, the autobiographic “Englishman in New York”) as well as absolutely new compositions from his fresh album 57th & 9th. The title is a reference to the New York intersection he crossed every day to get to the studio where much of the album was recorded.
Critics point out that the new album symbolizes the return of the “good old Sting,” a tough rocker and an affectionate lyricist at the same time, whom the devout fans have been already missing. At least, this applies to his Ukrainian fans, for the singer last visited Kyiv as many as six years ago, in 2011.
As aficionados are trying by hook or by crook to learn at which airport the megastar’s chartered plane will land, preparing gifts and even a colorful flash mob, the Palace of Sport is getting ready – it is common knowledge that Sting is a perfectionist, so everything about his concert must be at the highest level.
For equipment-loaded trucks are expected to arrive, for the musician always carries with him all the technical appliances that ensure sound, lighting, the set design, visual effects, etc. Two buses will bring to Kyiv the specialists who will install and properly tune all this. There will be even the personal cook who always accompanies the star on tours. The guest will live in the presidential suite of a five-star hotel and move across the city in a luxury car – in a word, he will have all that world-level stars usually need, says the press service of the concert agency Anshlag, the organizer of this high-profile project.
The audience is in for a pleasant surprise. Lately, Sting has been sharing the stage with his son Joe Sumner, a talented and already well-known musician and composer. In any case, this “family company” put on a triumphal show in Boston a few weeks ago to the thunderous applause of the audience. The father and the son are still receiving rave reviews from the leading US media. After the Kyiv concert, Sting and his team will continue the tour of Eastern Europe, visiting Minsk, Kaunas, Krakow, and Budapest in the near future.
