Sting's turn to catch the Quebec City bug...

After Placido Domingo on Friday, it was Sting's turn to add another layer of mythical polish to this magnificent venue, which Sir Paul McCartney made famous last year. And for the first time since the start of the Quebec City Summer Festival, the stars were out in force for the show.

Sting did not disappoint. He, whose most recent albums are highly polished, with musical arrangements featuring a multitude of instrumentalists, took to the stage with a minimalist band: drums, electric guitar, keyboards, and, of course, himself on bass. It was a bold move, and it paid off.

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, his real name, captivated a huge crowd, undoubtedly reaching hundreds of thousands of people, by drawing on the best of his impressive repertoire of hits.

It took a few songs for the evening to falter due to poor sound quality, where Dominic Miller's guitar was barely audible, but the magic was still there from the very first tracks. Clearly, Sting knows what the audience wants to hear.

With 'If I Ever Lose My Faith In You', 'Message In A Bottle' by his favorite band The Police, and 'An Englishman in New York', the 58-year-old Briton hit the mark. Dressed all in white, in stark contrast to his black-clad musicians, Sting demonstrated that his voice alone can win hearts.

One of the magical moments of the evening was undoubtedly his rendition of 'Fields Of Gold', a track from his album 'Ten Summoner's Tales' whose beauty made Sir Paul the envious. "If there's one song I wish I'd written, it's that one," the former Beatle said last year.

We also would have loved to hear "Heavy Cloud No Rain," a song tailor-made for this evening with its uncertain weather, and also "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets," the only French song Sting ever recorded on his album "Mercury Falling," but oh well, you can't have everything!

The captivated audience was treated to all the hits that made this milkman's son an international star, starting with the unforgettable "Roxanne," which, in 1977, propelled his band The Police to the heights of fame, a level they have never since left.

From this group, the audience was also treated to 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic', 'Walking on the Moon' (whose 40th anniversary is being celebrated these days), 'Bring On The Night', 'King of Pain', and of course, 'Every Breath You Take'.

This wonderful evening concluded Sting's several-day stay in Quebec City.

Rumor has it that the Englishman inquired about the city with his fellow countryman Paul McCartney before arriving. He particularly wanted to know if it was safe to get around without fear of being mobbed by hordes of obnoxious groupies. The Liverpool bassist gave him the assurance.

As a result, Sting strolled through Old Quebec at his leisure, without any major incidents. He was spotted on a terrace in Place d'Youville, listening to a festival performance at the Saint-Amour restaurant on Saint-Ursule Street, the same one that hosted McCartney last year, who no doubt gave him the inside scoop. He rehearsed his show at the small La Méduse complex on Côte d'Abraham.

It was there that he uttered one of those phrases that proud Quebecers receive with... orgasmic enthusiasm. "I love Quebec City!" he exclaimed.

Not to make Montrealers jealous, but Quebec City could very well become a favorite destination for the international jet set.

If idols like Sting, McCartney, and Domingo start spreading the word among their acquaintances and acting as travel advisors, the small, isolated North American city with a "French touch" could become a haven of rest and peace for all these celebrities who want to reconnect with their humanity from time to time.

To be continued...

(c) Rue Frontenac by Yves Chartrand

Sting: The Englishman in Music...

He appeared dressed all in white (casually) and charmed his longtime fans—especially his female fans—by opening his show with 'If I Ever Lose My Faith In You' and following it up with 'Message In A Bottle'. This opening silenced any remaining doubts. Sting wasn't going to offer us his latest passions, such as the music of John Dowland, which he immortalized on his album 'Songs From the Labyrinth', but rather a retrospective of his career, which began with The Police.

The hits of the popular trio were played: 'Walking On The Moon', 'King of Pain', 'Synchronicity II', 'Roxanne', 'Every Breath You Take', and many more. Not to mention his own hits 'If You Love Somebody Set Them Free' and 'Fields of Gold'. 'Desert Rose' was the most recent song in this repertoire, and we tried not to think too much about Cheb Mami, who had recorded it as a duet with him...

It was at the beginning of this concert, after 'Englishman in New York' (while he quenched his thirst with a sip of his... tea?), that he took the opportunity to speak in French while introducing his band. Perhaps the only moment of the show where the artist took the time to interact with us.

The English singer and bassist wasn't particularly talkative or warm. A bit like the "erudite" artist he's always been, or at least wanted people to believe he was. A certain reserve. However, musically, it must be said that he has a knack for surrounding himself with the right musicians and delivering a near-perfect performance.

Surrounded by guitarist Dominic Miller, the excellent keyboardist David Sancious, and drummer Josh Freese (who embodied the rock edge of this performance), Sting was riding a wavering machine. Despite his voice wavering on the higher notes, he still retained that characteristic timbre that defined his intelligent pop, which has aged remarkably well.

You were there in great numbers for this exceptional visit, the largest crowd (as expected) gathered at the Festival this year. The organizers are already reporting over 100,000 attendees, and if the trend continues, that number should increase in the coming hours: 120,000, 140,000...

(c) See by Antoine Léveillée

Sting shines on the Plains...

Last night, a shower of luminous macarons descended upon the Plains of Abraham at one of the highlights of the 42nd edition of the Festival d'été de Québec: Sting.

Dressed all in white, the bassist began his show by addressing the crowd, estimated at 120,000 spectators, with "Je me souviens" (I remember). A record, according to the Festival d'été organizers.

The encounter between the Englishman in New York and the audience was a success, despite the threat of bad weather looming on the horizon. Gordon Summer, aka Sting, did not disappoint his longtime fans. The former police officer launched into a string of his greatest hits, including "Roxanne," "Every Breath You Take," and "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You."

The message in a bottle resonated with the captivated crowd, who appreciated both the rockier and jazzier, slower-tempo tracks. Midway through the evening, "Shape Of My Heart" seemed to win over the audience. A few heartfelt cheers and applause erupted after the ballad's opening notes.

Sting, in top form, was accompanied by guitarist Dominic Miller, keyboardist David Sancious, and drummer Josh Freese. Each musician had the opportunity to showcase their talents by performing a solo during the show.

Since his performance was in Quebec City, one might have expected him to perform his French-language song "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets" (from his album "Mercury Falling"), but this was not the case. Generous with his time and energy, Sting gave a few encores, concluding his performance with 'Fragile'.

(c) Québec Hebdo by Véronique Demers

Sting in Quebec City: Class and Charm...

Those who were worried about the content of Sting's concert Saturday night on the Plains of Abraham were quickly reassured. There was no classical music on the program. The British singer, dressed in white and with a smile on his face, instead performed a string of his greatest hits – 'Message in a Bottle', 'Englishman in New York', and 'Fields of Gold' – skillfully blending songs from The Police, the band of which he is the bassist, with his solo material. While he did allow himself a few digressions on the highly anticipated 'Roxanne' with a surprising—and lengthy—passage where the bass took center stage, Sting mostly adhered to the original versions. This was enough to satisfy the many fans gathered under the clear skies of Quebec City. (Posted online Sunday, 8:30 a.m.)

In a friendly atmosphere and before an eclectic crowd, estimated at over 100,000 people by the organizers of the Quebec City Summer Festival, the singer with the soaring voice and his three bandmates—Dominic Miller (guitar), David Sancious (impressive on keyboards), and Josh Freese (drums)—delivered a rhythmic show. One could always criticize the simplistic lighting effects (it must be said that after the performance of the energetic Kiss, it was easy to find everything bland); The fact remains that Sting, 58, set the mood from the very first notes of 'If I Ever Lose My Faith In You' right through to the concert's finale: 'Fragile' and his promise to return to Quebec City soon.
Some may have noticed that, unlike the other artists who graced the Plains of Abraham, Sting remained true to his political convictions. A supporter of the David Suzuki Foundation, a Canadian environmental organization, the singer opted to forgo the plastic water bottle traditionally placed at the artists' feet to quench their thirst, instead offering a white porcelain cup. Very classy.

(c) Le Devoir by Yasmine Berthou

Sting: From Battlefields to Fields of Gold...

Sting sent a message in a bottle to the people of Quebec City yesterday. A bottle filled with his best-known, and often most beautiful, songs. His fans clearly received the message, flocking to the Plains of Abraham despite the threatening skies.

A major star of the 42nd Summer Festival, Sting was as eagerly awaited in the capital as... summer itself! The English musician finally arrived in our town before the latter, even though Mother Nature was a bit kinder last night than she had been since the start of the event.

It would have taken a lot to stop Sting's die-hard fans from packing the festival's main stage. In fact, by mid-evening, you could see the illuminated passes flashing all the way to the Citadelle of Quebec!

This was the sight that greeted Sting on stage around 10 p.m. Dressed in white from head to toe, with his inseparable 1954 Fender Precision bass slung over his shoulder, the former Police frontman launched straight into a roughly 90-minute set consisting mainly of hits. His own hits, like 'Englishman in New York' and 'If You Love Somebody Set Them Free', but also those by The Police, such as 'Roxanne', 'Message in a Bottle', and 'Synchronicity II'.

With him on stage was a seasoned trio of musicians whose combined experience was truly impressive. Whether it was guitarist Dominic Miller (Rod Stewart, Peter Gabriel, Bryan Adams), keyboardist David Sancious (Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel), or drummer Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Guns N' Roses), a studio musician who has contributed to over 300 albums throughout his career, each had a great time during the evening.

As for the boss himself, he never seemed more on form, despite a slightly raspy voice that occasionally betrayed him in the higher notes. Speaking in French, Sting didn't give any grand speeches to his audience, simply letting the music do the talking. Under the guidance of the excellent Josh Freese, the music delivered on the promise of a "rock concert" made by the Summer Festival.

Perhaps not quite the unforgettable performance of another Englishman, Paul McCartney, especially given the limited effort put into the visual presentation of the show, but certainly one of the very best musical offerings of recent years. Hats off!

(c) Le Soleil by Kathleen Lavoie

The Plains Conquered...

Last night, an "Englishman" conquered the Plains of Abraham, triumphantly unleashing his full power... and irresistible charm! He even set an all-time record, with a crowd of over 100,000 people, according to an estimate by the Summer Festival.

A memorable encounter with the endearing British singer, who, on his second visit to Quebec City, captivated the audience with a repertoire of his classic hits, both those from his time with The Police and his solo work.

From the moment he appeared on stage, Sting ignited a frenzy of enthusiasm in the huge, packed house under perfect weather conditions. Never before had so many cell phones been in motion to capture these precious moments.

All smiles, dressed all in white, this highly anticipated guest of the 42nd Quebec City Summer Festival delighted the crowd, who erupted in ecstasy at the first chords of all his standout tracks, which evoked so many fond memories, starting with 'If I Ever Lose My Faith in You,' which he followed with 'Message in a Bottle' and 'Englishman in New York.'

Never putting down his bass, he displayed his signature crystalline voice, which resonated deeply with the audience. "How's it going, Quebec?" Sting called out to the crowd, engaging them throughout in French. His spoken interludes were brief, as the focus was entirely on the music, enhanced by solid performances from his three bandmates: Dominic Miller on guitar, David Sancious on keyboards, and Josh Freeze on drums.

Less talkative than Paul McCartney, Sting nevertheless took the time to emphasize "the pleasure of being here in Quebec City" before continuing to delight the crowd with other magical moments like "Fields of Gold" and the highly anticipated "Roxanne," which brought the collective excitement to a fever pitch among the audience... and surely also among those watching on television who had access to a simultaneous pan-Canadian broadcast thanks to pay-per-view.

With remarkable generosity, Sting, who never loses his smile, respectfully offers his hits in their entirety, though he does indulge in a delightful, funky reinterpretation of 'Roxanne'. Completely captivated, the crowd is swept away by this beautiful and intelligent music, presented without fanfare, but with heartfelt emotion by an artist who truly seemed to share in his audience's enjoyment.

A true original, this Englishman in Quebec!

(c) Le Journal de Quebec by Pierre O. Nadeau