Sting's classical detour

Sting brings his classical music project, Songs from the Labyrinth, a personal tribute to the late 16th-century Elizabethan composer John Dowland, to the concert stage in Kuala Lumpur this Sunday.

Following the highly successful Police reunion tour, which ended at Madison Square Garden in New York in August, Sting will take on a vastly different challenge this month, as he returns to the stage in this region with his classical project.

Sting might just be the pop star who spearheads the revival of interest in John Dowland, and the lute in general.

Refined Elizabethan music might not come to mind when you think of Sting. Think again. The rock star/bassist supremo will be touring in support of the Songs from the Labyrinth deluxe album, a CD/DVD of songs by John Dowland, one of the Elizabethan era’s most important composers. It’s a collection of songs for voice and lute – a stringed instrument that was popular in the 16th century.

Presented by An Axcellent Production, Sting in classical concert mode rolls out at the Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre this Sunday.

Dowland’s songs are usually performed by highly trained classical musicians. And Sting admits he’s not one of them. But so far, the CD has received good reviews since its 2006 release. A reissue of the album (with bonus material) was released last year.

On stage in Kuala Lumpur, Sting will be performing with Edin Karamazov, classical concert trio ZBG and choir Stile Antico.

It turns out Sting has been “haunted” by Dowland’s music for more than 20 years. His interest in the composer grew even more intense when he was introduced to Karamazov, a lutenist from Bosnia.

Even though these songs were written long before Billboard charts and Top 40, Sting says he’s treating them like pop songs. He calls Dowland the first English singer/songwriter we know of.

“He kind of invented the form – the alienated singer/songwriter,” Sting says.

It makes sense that the “king of pain” is attracted to Dowland. The composer is perhaps best known for hypnotic songs that are full of anguish, with titles including Flow My Tears, In Darkness Let Me Dwell and Come, Heavy Sleep.

Karamazov, a protégé of the legendary conductor Sergiu Celibidache, has been Sting’s partner in this project from its conception.

Also joining Sting and Karamazov on this tour is the British a cappella choir Stile Antico, who featured in all the European performances of Songs from the Labyrinth.

Classical group ZBG takes its name from the surnames of its three members: Allan Zavod, David Berlin and Slava Grigoryan. All three are respected in their own right and their highly original music encompasses the inimitable soundscapes of classical/jazz fusion.

The setlist isn’t entirely classical as Stings also shows how this 400-year-old music has aspects very much in sync with relatively contemporary works. Both Robert Johnson’s Hellhound on My Trail and Sting’s own Police hit Message in a Bottle have been known to make the setlist, albeit with spare but robust accompaniment.

Tickets for Sting’s Songs from the Labyrinth concert in Kuala Lumpur this Sunday are priced at RM203, RM253, RM303, RM353 and RM383. Showtime is 8pm. For bookings, call Axcess hotline (03-77115000) or browse www.axcess.com.my.