As I mentioned in a previous concert review, just the thought of Police tunes squashed into a symphonic mold nearly made me nauseous. All I could hear in my head were Lawrence Welk-versions of “Roxanne” and “King of Pain,” and it seemed ludicrous that these versions of classic Police songs could ever find a favored place in my music collection. To prepare for the concert, I even listened to as much old Police as I could find in an effort to indelibly etch the memories of those versions into my head. This, I thought, would help me recognize my favorite songs somewhere amidst the violins, cellos, harps and horns. As it turned out, I’d forgotten about the genius of Sting’s musical talent, and all that pre-concert listening was completely unnecessary. (Photo at right by Jeff O'Kelley)
The Symphonicity tour featured some of the best Sting and Police songs as presented with the combined talents of Sting and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra (under the direction of Maestro Steven Mercurio). The result was fresh and unique versions of songs like “Every Breath You Take,” “She’s Too Good For Me” and even the trademark Police hit, “Roxanne.” While the traditional framework of an orchestra can come off as somewhat stale and stuffy, Mercurio had the ensemble rocking out and even pulling off some cool, choreographed dance moves. The esult was a very laid-back concert experience that allowed even the most jaded fans to shed their preconceived notions of what to expect, and actually enjoy the evening.
