Sting's autograph price: 150 kroons!

At Sting's concert, anyone could get the star's autograph, but not quite like that: if the tour program normally cost 200 kroons, the autographed program was asked for 350. The calculation shows that Sting's autograph is worth 150 kroons!

Sting, who landed in Tallinn by private plane at lunchtime on Saturday, appeared before the audience at Saku Suurhall at 8:10 p.m. The 6,000 seats were almost sold out and to get in, you had to stand in a queue several dozen meters long outside the doors of the Suurhall. But it paid off in spades: the mammoth concert featured a total of 26 new, classic arrangements of Sting's songs (he performed the 27th song a cappella). His work is a natural fit for orchestration - it felt as if these songs were always meant to sound that way.

Alongside the 45-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Steven Mercurio, Sting is supported on the 'Symphonicity' tour by guitarist Dominic Miller, percussionists Rhani Krija and David Cossin, bassist Ira Coleman and backing vocalist Jo Lawry. The energy was flowing throughout the huge line-up: as if Steven Mercurio, who had just completed a three-hour dance training session, threatened to take off in front of the orchestra by tiptoeing, and when necessary, the orchestra members jumped up and clapped their hands above their heads to encourage the audience, although the crowd was anything but dull.

"Although I also visited Estonia in 2001 and 2006, I'm thrilled to be back with the greatest band I've ever had," the star said, after the first songs 'If I Ever Lose My Faith In You' and 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' were behind him, and introduced the line-up in an unusual way right at the beginning.

The orchestra added grandeur to the songs. ''Roxanne'' came out particularly elegantly - a beautiful cello solo elevated the song's protagonist from a prostitute to a princess.

The epic-warlike opening of the Cold War-themed song 'Russians' was the most memorable. The violinists' speed of stringing was tested by the fast-paced Police-era rock song 'Next to You'. Although foreign concert reviews have found that the classic setting is not suitable for Sting's country songs, the audience was thrilled with 'This Cowboy Song'.

The folksy Sting chimed in with a story about the background of the songs. "There are only two kinds of love songs. Some are I-love-you-you-love-me songs, which are boring. Some are I-love-you-but-you-love-someone-else songs. They're exciting," he introduced the sad song "When We Dance." The song "Tomorrow We'll See" is about a transgender prostitute. Sting explained that he imagines himself in all kinds of roles as a songwriter.

The 25-minute break that divided the concert could be filled, for example, by buying fan merchandise. In addition to the aforementioned tour programs, parents who were fans could buy baby clothes with the Sting logo for their little ones.

The stage design was simple. Three screens hanging above the performers' heads showed the work of photo, video and installation artists, including Sting's daughter Mickey Sumner, which sometimes linked to the songs.

Sting and his team stayed overnight at the Kolm Õde luxury hotel in the old town and left Estonia yesterday. Today they will perform at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.

(c) Õhtuleht by Kais Allkivi