Sting repeats himself, but with taste...

The surprise is somewhat gone with Sting. His flirtations with classical music and jazz, however unusual or daring, have become a permanent fixture in the music of this 41-year-old Englishman.

Partly because of this, the new CD, "Ten Summoner's Tales," by the former lead singer of The Police, seems little more than the culmination of eight years of solo music-making. A moment of pause. But even though Sting repeats himself, he does so with taste.

This also applies to Sting's concert at Ahoy. Aside from a handful of new songs, the show wasn't significantly different from his previous one. Even the three accompanying musicians remained the same: Dominic Miller (guitar), David Sancious (keyboards), and Vinnie Colaiuta (drums). Nevertheless, the music sounded fresh, and Sting played the audience smoothly. As if the pop star had just completed his 10,000-kilometer service.

Sting was in the mood. This was already evident in the opening number, "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You," where he skipped merrily up and down the stage. The version of "Penny Lane," a Beatles hit, also spoke volumes. The song was clearly unrehearsed, but that gave it an extra dimension. Sting played in Rotterdam—that much was clear—for the sheer joy of playing.

Where other pop stars try to disguise their insecurities with an avalanche of video footage and a torrent of lights and lasers, Sting opted for simplicity. Musically as well: the quartet continued to play in service of the songs. At Ahoy, they used unusual time signatures and chords, but everything nevertheless made an accessible impression.

It's a shame, however, that Sting always performs the same songs from his legacy with The Police. In Rotterdam, fans were treated to "Message In A Bottle" and "Roxanne" for the umpteenth time. But it must be said: he even performed those songs with enthusiasm. His music may no longer have the shock of newness, but at least Sting was back on stage as an inspired and convincing pop star.

(c) Algemeen Dagblad by David Kleijwegt