Sting travels back to the time of noble knights...

Sting on his "Songs from the Labyrinth" tour in Basel.

It sounds like a fairy tale when, amidst recorded atmospheric sound and subdued, colourful lighting, the bard Sting tells of the great John Dowland, a fellow musician from ancient times, when knights still fought with swords and love ruled hearts. John was the most important lute player and composer in Elizabethan England. Just as he once toured the European courts, Sting now tours the country with John's music in a mix of pop event and chamber concert. He held court at the naturally sold-out Düsseldorf Tonhalle.

To kick things off, a messenger appeared with a lute. Edin Karamzov, a charmingly smiling musician with a Prince Valiant haircut, plucked a fantasia on his instrument as his fingers guided him. So then, for whatever reason, he launched himself with bravura into Bach's Toccata in D minor, which was neither appropriate for the time nor necessarily for the instrument, but which most listeners would surely be familiar with. Yes, it is the piece of sacred music that our Eastern European music guests virtuosically pound into their accordions hundreds of times a day in pedestrian alleys. Edin sometimes muted the strings by covering them with his hair: he compensated for his surprisingly unclean playing with intensely played warmth and liked to cuddle with his lute.

Sting appeared, and the audience went wild. He sang a first Dowland song to lute accompaniment, in his light and breathy voice, completely without pressure, technically compressed and embellished. It sounded very honest and pleasant; Sting likes Dowland's music. Sting also picked up the lute himself and played a few easy phrases. Then a choir, "Stile Antique" from London, appeared, a mixed octet with hauntingly clear young voices, singing a beautiful melody beneath the melodies. The light evolved along with them – until Sting abruptly reached into the deep "Police" cabinet, and a blissful cry from the audience greeted the titles: "Message in a Bottle," accompanied by the gently vibrating strings, suddenly sounded quite close to John Dowland's songs.

Everyone was happy, and perhaps that was Sting's message: The bards still travel the country today; you just have to take away their electric instruments!

(c) Kölnische Rundschau by Olaf Weiden