It has been 20 years since Sting last performed at Limassol’s Tsirio Stadium, but the rock legend has clearly lost none of his touch. At 74, he remains an assured and commanding performer, sounding remarkably close to the artist who was at the height of his powers in the 1980s.
It is not every day that a world-famous musician with 17 Grammy Awards performs in Cyprus, let alone in Limassol, and the anticipation among the crowd reflected that. The stadium was packed and the audience responded enthusiastically from the moment he walked out on to the stage.
(Image credit: Halle Irvine)Message in a Bottle was the perfect opener. Its fast-paced guitar riff and energetic percussion were immediately met with cheers and nodding heads, while the infectious “I’ll send an SOS to the world” hook quickly became a stadium-wide singalong.
Sting followed it with several other classics from his years with The Police, including Every Breath You Take, Roxanne, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic and So Lonely. His solo career was also well represented, with songs such as Fields of Gold, Englishman In New York and Shape of My Heart among the highlights. of the performance was Sting’s voice. He did not shy away from the high note
Perhaps the most striking part of the performance was Sting’s voice. He did not shy away from the high notes, and at times sounded almost exactly as he does on records released four decades ago. There is now a slightly raspier quality to his voice, but on some songs it adds rather than detracts, giving them greater texture and weight.
When the phones briefly disappeared, it was easy to imagine being transported back to the 1980s. Sting sounded youthful, while Tsirio Stadium — built in 1975 and seemingly little changed since — provided an appropriately nostalgic setting.
Despite the stadium’s age, the sound quality was among the best I have heard at an outdoor concert. The music remained clear and powerful throughout, without the distortion or unevenness that can sometimes affect the sound at large open-air performances.
Sting also appeared genuinely pleased to be back on the island, shouting “Limassol!” during the opening song as he strutted across the stage with his vintage bass guitar. The retro aesthetic extended to the electric guitar, which looked as though it could have come straight from the 1960s.The crowd skewed older, with relatively few young people in attendance. That made the concert feel like a genuine throwback for those who had grown up with Sting’s music. Yet the performance itself never felt dated.
Desert Rose received an especially warm response. Its strong Middle Eastern influences appeared to resonate with the Cypriot audience, making it a particularly fitting addition to the set list.
The rarity of seeing an artist of Sting’s stature perform in Cyprus undoubtedly made the evening feel even more special. The only disappointment is not knowing when the island will host another concert of this scale. Judging by the packed stadium and the crowd’s response, the demand is clearly there.
