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Tonic and Citta Introduce Hand Knit Pashmina Scarves to Support Women's Center in Nepal...

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:01 -0500

Tonic and Citta Introduce Hand Knit Pashmina Scarves to Support Women's Center in Nepal...

$100 for 100 Women in Need - Queen Latifah, Sting, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie, Susan Sarandon, Natalie Merchant, David Byrne & Thandie Newton among Celebrity Participants.

Tonic, the leading media and ecommerce site focused on effortless activism and social good, announced today their new partnership with Citta for a project that will benefit women in both India and Nepal. Beginning today, visitors to www.tonic.com can purchase a unique 100% pashmina scarf, designed by Lucy Barnes and hand knit by the women of the Citta Himalaya Women's Center with proceeds funding the new, Jaisalmer Women's Center in Rajasthan, India. The scarf, which retails for $100 will help 100 women in need in India. Tonic partnered with Citta, an organization that supports remote and impoverished regions of the world, and asked several creative minds who transform the way we see the world through the words they choose, to select a word that holds importance or meaning in their lives. The Himalayan women hand embroidered the select words to each scarf in Sanskrit, providing them with training for valuable skills they can use in the future and a salary that allows them to feel independence and contribute to their families.

Participants include Queen Latifah, whose chosen word is "strength," Sting, whose chosen word is "resolve," Scarlett Johansson, whose chosen word is "reuse," David Bowie, whose chosen word is "funk", Susan Sarandon, whose chosen word is "awake," Natalie Merchant, whose chosen word is "silent," David Byrne, whose chosen word is "dust", and Thandie Newton, who selected "surrender."

The hand embroidered scarves made of 100% 2 ply pashmina retail for $100 each and are available in gray and camel and are sold exclusively on www.tonic.com. The fine cashmere wool comes from changthangi or pashmina goat, a special breed of goat indigenous to high altitudes of the Himalayas.

Ten percent of every sale will fund the new Citta Jaisalmer Women's Center in Rajasthan, India where women will have access to classes on health, hygiene and nutrition for not only themselves but for their families as well. Another ten percent will go to The Tonic Foundation, the charitable arm of Tonic that supports causes that Tonic members and customers identify by taking action on www.tonic.com.

"Words can be positive, powerful tools. They can mobilize a nation to independence or relay confidence to an army winning a battle against all odds. Words can transmit love from one being to another, or convey the mysteries of life from a teacher to a student," said Michael Daube, Founder of Citta. "I am excited to partner with Tonic on this important collaboration which uses powerful words to provide skills and economic development for the women of the Thar Desert."

"To have this unique opportunity to partner with an organization as great as Citta and help women in need in both Nepal and India is something that Tonic is very proud to be a part of" said Pankaj Shah, Founder and CEO of Tonic. "With the help of these words that carry such significance, we hope to leave a lasting impression with the public which will, in turn, result in a massive joint effort to help those in need."

ABOUT TONIC (www.tonic.com)
Tonic is the leading media, ecommerce, and community site focused on effortless activism and social good, making it easy for people to do good things every day. Tonic.com features the latest news and content focused on effortless activism and social good and "positively good" human interest stories about people doing great things while offering valuable information on results-driven causes that make an impact. Additionally, Tonic sells high quality products and services that have an added benefit of making something good happen in the world. Founded by entrepreneur Pankaj Shah, Tonic is supported by a diverse and impressive Board of Creators including Island Records founder and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chris Blackwell, son of legendary investor and businessman Warren Buffett and musician Peter Buffett, fashion designer and philanthropist Donna Karan, music industry executive Phil Quartararo, Efficient Frontier Chairwoman Ellen Siminoff and Whitney Williams, Founder & President of Williamsworks.

ABOUT CITTA (www.citta.org)
Citta, whose name is derived from the Sanskrit word for 'compassionate mind', is an organization that is aware that people of different paths share the same world. Citta is a registered charity dedicated to providing assistance to marginalized or indigenous communities and assisting those in extreme economic, environmental, or political distress. By helping these communities, we seek to build and sustain institutions essential for their survival. Our goal is to help create infrastructures that will be maintained by the communities themselves, and to help create a more fully realized global unity in which everyone has a chance to participate, while preserving ways of life for the future.

WNYC's The Greene Space, Classical 105.9 WQXR, Opus Arte and Music Unites welcome Sting and Trudie Styler for an Exclusive Presentation of the New York Premiere Screening of Twin Spirits on December 3...

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:59:59 -0500

WNYC's The Greene Space, Classical 105.9 WQXR, Opus Arte and Music Unites welcome Sting and Trudie Styler for an Exclusive Presentation of the New York Premiere Screening of Twin Spirits at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, Thursday, December 3rd 6:30 pm.

The poignant and tragic love story of Robert and Clara Schumann told in words and music will be webcast live on WNYC.org, followed by audio stream of conversation with Sting and Trudie hosted by WQXR's Elliott Forrest.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Music Unites Youth Choir and the Royal Opera House Education Programs.

On Thursday, December 3rd, WNYC's The Greene Space and Classical 105.9 WQXR together with Music Unites will host the New York premiere of Twin Spirits, a poetic meditation on the passionate relationship between composer Robert and wife Clara Schumann. Following the film, WQXR host Elliott Forrest will convene a conversation with the film's leading couple, Sting and Trudie Styler.

In addition to the live studio audience, listeners around the world will be able to watch the film online through a live video stream at WNYC.org/thegreenespace and WQXR.org beginning at 6:30pm, followed by an audio stream of the post-film discussion.

The evening is being held as a benefit for the New York-based music education charity, Music Unites, and the Royal Opera House Education programs.

Released this fall on DVD and Blu-Ray disc on Opus Arte, Twin Spirits tells the story of the passionate romance and subsequent marriage between composer Robert Schumann and pianist and composer Clara Wieck. Twin Spirits brings together nine diverse performers of the highest caliber: Sting joins his wife, actress, producer and philanthropist Trudie Styler to read from the letters between Robert and Clara. Their story, narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi, is illustrated and interwoven with music composed by Robert - whose spirit is embodied by pianist Iain Burnside, baritone Simon Keenlyside and violinist Sergej Krylov - and by Clara, who is evoked by pianist Natasha Paremski, soprano Rebecca Evans, and cellist Natalie Clein. This "beautifully constructed" production (BBC Music Magazine), a subtle and moving fusion of recital and drama, was devised by the stage director and writer John Caird.

Love began to blossom between Robert Schumann (1810-56) and Clara Wieck (1819-90) when she was a teenager and he was the student of her father, Friedrich Wieck, who made every effort to impede the relationship. She was one of the 19th century's greatest pianists and herself a composer of note. After a legal battle with her father the couple finally married in 1840. In the 1850s their happiness became compromised by Robert's increasing mental instability, which resulted in a suicide attempt in 1854; he died in an asylum in 1856. Clara, who lived for another 40 years, devoted her considerable energies to propagating her husband's music, which is at its greatest in his intimate works for piano, voice and chamber ensemble.

Twin Spirits was recorded before a small audience in a studio space at London's Royal Opera House shortly before Christmas 2007. All the artists involved donated their talent and time so that everyone buying a copy will be supporting the important work of the Royal Opera House Education Program which provides opportunities for some 90,000 people annually to engage with opera, music and dance.

The New York-based charity Music Unites shares the goals of the Royal Opera House Education Program and was therefore an ideal American partner organization for this event. Music Unites aims to heighten the appreciation of music across all genres, raise awareness for established musicians and emerging talent, support music education programs and bring music into the lives of people in under-served communities. Music Unites hopes to inspire and encourage musicians to contribute to the vitality and wealth of musical expression, which enriches the cultural life of any community.

Proceeds from the Twin Spirits screening will benefit the Music Unites Youth Choir, bringing together public high school students from across the five boroughs in an effort to create a diverse performance ensemble. Participants will study and perform compositions in all musical styles including classical, musical theater, R&B and gospel and have the opportunity to perform at Music Unites events and collaborate and be mentored by established Music Unites artists including Lang Lang, Blue October, Tamarama, Chester French, Peter Bjorn & John, John Forte, Howie Day, Mark Ronson and Daniel Merriweather. Music Unites will also be creating opportunities for students to interact with music industry professionals, giving them access to well-known cultural venues for practice and performances through a special partnership with the Young Audiences of New York.

The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space is WNYC's new multi-platform broadcast studio and performance venue. A new destination for artists and audiences, The Greene Space presents live performances, signature WNYC radio shows and video webcasts, and special programming from WQXR - with concerts, audio theatre, political and cultural discussions, film, visual arts, public radio events and more.

For more information about the Twin Spirits project, Robert and Clara Schumann and the Royal Opera House Education Program visit www.twin-spirits.com. Visit www.musicunites.org, to learn more about the mission of Music Unites.

Twin Spirits Screening with Special Guests Sting and Trudie Styler
Hosted by WNYC, WQXR, Music Unites and Opus Arte
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 6:30 pm
The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space
44 Charlton Street, New York

LIVE webcast of Twin Spirits on WNYC.org/thegreenespace and WQXR.org. Audio stream of Interview with Sting and Trudie Styler hosted by Elliott Forrest to follow screening at 8:30 pm

WNYC Radio is New York's premier public radio franchise, comprising WNYC FM, WNYC AM, and WQXR, as well as www.wnyc.org and www.wqxr.org. As America's most listened-to AM/FM public radio stations, reaching more than one million listeners every week, WNYC extends New York City's cultural riches to the entire country on-air and online, and presents the best national offerings from networks National Public Radio, Public Radio International, American Public Media, and the British Broadcasting Company. WNYC 93.9 FM broadcasts a wide range of daily news, talk, cultural and classical music programming, while WNYC AM 820 maintains a stronger focus on breaking news and international news reporting. Classical 105.9 WQXR is New York City's sole classical music station, which presents new and landmark classical recordings as well as live concerts from the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, among other New York City venues, immersing listeners in the city's rich musical life. In addition to its audio content, WNYC produces content for live, radio and web audiences from The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, the station's street-level multipurpose, multiplatform broadcast studio and performance space. For more information about WNYC, visit www.wnyc.org.

The Best of Kathryn Tickell - thirty five track double CD set for release on November 16 - The Best of Kathryn Tickell is a two-disc set containing the highlights of Northumbrian piper, fiddle player and composer Kathryn Tickell's career...

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:59:57 -0500

For those of you coming to the Sage Gateshead in December wishing to acquaint yourself with more of Kathryn Tickell's work, or for anyone that enjoys good traditional music, Kathryn has a thirty-five track double CD "Best Of" release due for release on November 16.

The Best of Kathryn Tickell is a two-disc set containing the highlights of Northumbrian piper, fiddle player and composer Kathryn Tickell's career. It seems a particularly fitting release since the globally acclaimed Northumbrian musician was awarded the prestigious Queen's Medal for Music.

Kathryn Tickell is a composer, performer and successful recording artist whose work is deeply rooted to the landscape and people of Northumbria. She also works collaboratively across many genres, making her work contemporary and exciting, and putting her firmly at the forefront of the current folk music revival. In 2008 she became the first folk musician in history to be commissioned to write a piece for the BBC Proms. It was written for Folkestra, Muzsikás, London Sinfonietta and London Young Musicians. One of the foremost composers of our time and Master of the Queen's Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, composed a piece especially for Kathryn, commissioned by The Sage Gateshead and premiered with musicians from Northern Sinfonia in October 2006 and aired on BBC Radio 3.

Winner of BBC Radio 2 Folk Award's Musician of the Year in 2005, Kathryn was the subject of a Channel 5 television documentary 'Kathryn Tickell's Northumbria' and has made numerous TV and radio appearances. In July 2007, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by University of Northumbria for her outstanding and inspirational achievements.

Full Tracklisting:

Disc: 1
1. Our Kate
2. Lads of Alnwick
3. Peter Man
4. Stories from the Debatable lands
5. The Wedding
6. Side Echoes
7. Rip Off Pharaoh
8. Westoe
9. Favourite Place (full version)
10. Bill Charltons
11. Jockey lay up in the Hayloft
12. Bellingham Boat
13. Brafferton
14. Walsh's
15. Jamie's Air
16. Rothbury Hills
Disc: 2
1. Hareshaw Burn
2. Rhymeside
3. Small & Wild
4. Stagshaw Bank Fair
5. Gin ye kiss my wife
6. Dunstanburgh
7. Thomas McElvogues
8. What it is
9. Here's the Tender
10. Capt Bover
11. Tune for Matt Robson
12. Kathleen
13. Roly Gentle
14. Hot Rivets etc
15. Midton Rd
16. Alan & Catherine's Wedding Jig
17. Flower of the Quern
18. Tiger's First Bird
19. Corn Fiddler

The CD can be pre-ordered from Amazon.

Celebrate Thanksgiving Night with Great Performances And Sting: A Winter's Night... New concert evokes the moods of the season with an eclectic program of songs, carols and lullabies...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:12:26 -0500

New concert evokes the moods of the season with an eclectic program of songs, carols and lullabies...

Composer, singer, actor, activist - Sting has won universal acclaim in all of these roles, but he defies easy labeling. He's best described as an adventurer and risk-taker. As he himself has said, "I love to put myself in new situations. I'm not afraid to be a beginner." Recorded on location at the magnificent Durham Cathedral near his hometown of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in northern England, Sting: A Winter's Night conjures the moods and spirits of the season with a diverse collection of songs, carols and lullabies spanning the centuries. Also featured are some new songs, as well as Sting's interpretation of classical favorites. "I'd say if I have a spirituality at all, it's about music," confesses Sting. Sting: A Winter's Night will broadcast on THIRTEEN's Great Performances series in HD on Thanksgiving night, Thursday, November 26 at 9 p.m. EST (check local listings).

Great Performances is a production of THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG - one of America's most prolific and respected public media providers.

Sting: A Winter's Night captures the artist in the evocative setting of one of England's most famous cathedrals. Standing on a peninsula overlooking the River Wear in County Durham, the 1,000 year-old UNESCO world heritage building is an iconic landmark of Northern England. Inside, the architecture and atmosphere are equally as inspiring, and it is in this setting that Sting is joined by guest musicians, including local Newcastle artists Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian pipes and fiddle), Peter Tickell (fiddle) and Julian Sutton (Melodeon).

Esteemed performers from around the world also include Dominic Miller (guitar), Vincent Ségal (cello), Scottish harpist Mary MacMaster, Ira Coleman (bass), Chris Gecker (trumpet), David Mansfield (violin and mandolin), Cyro Baptista, Bashiri Johnson and Rhani Krija (percussion), and vocalists Laila Biali, Lisa Fischer, Jo Lawry and Steven Santoro.

Producer Robert Sadin conducts an ensemble of 35 musicians, which includes additional string and brass sections.

Featuring traditional music of the British Isles as its starting point, Sting and guest musicians interpret stirring, folk-based melodies including "The Snow it Melts the Soonest" (traditional Newcastle ballad), "Soul Cake" (traditional English "begging" song), "Christmas at Sea" (traditional Scottish song), "Gabriel's Message" (14th century carol), "Balulalow" (lullaby by Peter Warlock) and "Now Winter Comes Slowly" (Henry Purcell). Two of Sting's own compositions are also featured: "Lullaby for an Anxious Child" and "The Hounds of Winter," which originally appeared on his previous release Mercury Falling.

"Winter is a season I've always had an affinity for," says Sting. "It's certainly rich in terms of inspiration and materials."

Born a milkman's son in Newcastle, England, Sting met Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers, who formed The Police in 1977. The band quickly became a success in both the U.S. and the UK, scoring several No. 1 hits including Roxanne, Every Breath you Take, King of Pain and Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic. The Police earned five Grammy Awards and two Brits, and in 2003, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

With the release of Dream of the Blue Turtles in 1985, followed by Bring on the Night, Nothing Like the Sun, The Soul Cages, Ten Summoner's Tales, Mercury Falling, Brand New Day, All This Time, Sacred Love and Songs from the Labyrinth, Sting has evolved into one of the world's most distinctive and highly-respected solo performers, collecting an additional 11 Grammy Awards, two Brits, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, three Oscar nominations, Billboard Magazine's Century Award and MusiCares Person of the Year for 2004.

A production of Graying & Balding, Inc., in association with Universal Music Classical Management & Productions (UMCMP) and THIRTEEN for WNET.ORG, the production is directed by the Emmy Award-winning team Jim Gable and Ann Kim. A DVD of the program will be released November 24 on Deutsche Grammophon, featuring additional performances and behind-the scenes footage documenting the concert's genesis.

Great Performances is funded by the Irene Diamond Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, Vivian Milstein, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, public television viewers and PBS.

For Great Performances, Bill O'Donnell is series producer and David Horn is executive producer. Visit Great Performances Online for additional information about this and other programs.

Sting's 'If On A Winter's Night...' enjoyed a great first week of release in the USA, entering the top 200 album chart in the #6 position, and going straight in at #1 on both the Holiday Album chart and the Classical album chart...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:10:50 -0500

Sting's 'If On A Winter's Night...' enjoyed a great first week of release in the USA, entering the top 200 album chart in the #6 position, and going straight in at #1 on both the Holiday Album chart and the Classical album chart (the latter repeating the feat of 'Songs From The Labyrinth'). The album also entered the Canadian charts in the #11 position.

Catch Sting on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday on November 7 - In an interview and studio performance with host Scott Simon, Sting agreed with the suggestion that music becomes more important in the wintertime...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:18:06 -0500

Music For Sting's Favorite Season...

November 7, 2009 - The frost is on the pumpkin this weekend, but Sting's new album provides a glimpse into the heart of winter. It's called If on a Winter's Night, and it's a collection of mostly traditional songs - and a few modern ones - about the season to come.

It's not a Christmas album, exactly, in the sense of Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole. The songs here evoke a season that celebrates self-seeking, selfless love and mystery as much as chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

"I have a certain affinity with the season - I think it's an undervalued season," Sting says. "For me, it's the season of the imagination, of spirits, of ghosts in the chimney, frosts, snow. It has a lot of paradox in it, too. It's the season I look forward to - I love the central celebration of it - but I also am aware that winter's a difficult time for a lot of people."

In an interview and studio performance with host Scott Simon, Sting agreed with the suggestion that music becomes more important in the wintertime.

"I think so, and I think it's the season of reflection," Sting says. "You know, we seem to need the winter to reassess ourselves, to hibernate, if you like; to seek home, to seek comfort. Somewhere cozy: the church, the family home."

Sting says he goes home in the winter - back to his 16th-century house near Stonehenge in England - with his dogs and family for an "English traditional Christmas." From NPR's New York bureau, he performed a 19th-century Northern English traditional song called "The Snow It Melts the Soonest." He says he didn't know this particular melody going into the recording sessions for Winter's Night, but he asked the musicians from his hometown of Newcastle to teach him some local fare - and they did.

He also took questions from Weekend Edition listeners, and spoke about playing on a chess team pitted against a blindfolded Garry Kasparov.

"He said to me, 'My job as a chess player is to crush your mind,'" Sting says. "And he did."

© NPR

Sting on Later with Jools Holland - The live 30 minute version of the show was broadcast on Tuesday, November 3 when Sting performed ''The Snow It Melts The Soonest'' accompanied by Dominic Miller and Ira Coleman...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:28:29 -0500

Sting joined Jools Halland this week when he appeared on the latest edition of "Later Live with Jools Holland". The live 30 minute version of the show was broadcast on Tuesday, November 3 when Sting performed "The Snow It Melts The Soonest" accompanied by Dominic Miller and Ira Coleman. The full recorded 60 minute show premieres on BBC1 at 10pm on November 6, and will feature Sting performing "Christmas at Sea" accomapnied by Mary MacMaster, Dominic Miller and Ira Coleman, and an interview between Sting and Jools.

Also on the show are Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, Norah Jones, Stornaway, Erik Mongrain and Ginger Baker.

The 30 minute live broadcast is available to view online (subject to country restrictions) via the Iplayer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nv8w4.

Forthcoming TV & Radio appearances... including upcoming performances on Later with Jools Holland, Andrew Marr Show, This Morning, BBC Breakfast TV, and the Alan Titchmarsh Show in the UK...

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:08 -0400

Please use this listing as a guide only for timings and check your LOCAL TV listings to avoid disappointment. These listings do not pretend to be complete, so if you hear of any TV or Radio shows being broadcast in your country that are not mentioned here be sure to let us know. If you have any information about an upcoming show, even if it is in your own language, please email details to us at at daveandwendy @sting.com so we can include it here.

November 7
NPR | 9.45am (EST) | 'Weekend Edition' (USA)
Watch out for Sting's interview on NPR's Weekend Edition!

November 8
RAI TV | Check local listings for times (CET) | 'Che Tempo Che Fa' (Italy)
Sting will be performing and be interviewed on this show.

November 9
Sky Movies Modern Greats | 1.55am (UK) | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

November 10
Europe 1 Radio | 8.50am (CET) | 'Marc Olivier Fogiel' (France)
Sting will be interviewed on this show which was recorded the previous day.

November 11
Belgian TV | 6pm (CET) | 'De Laatste Show' (Belgium)
Sting will be performing and be interviewed on this show.

November 12
PALLADIA 332 | 6pm (EST) | 'All Access: Front Row. Backstage. Live!' (USA)
Artists discuss work behind the scenes, including performances by Dave Matthews Band with Al Green, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic with Mary J. Blige, B.B. King with Trey Anastasio, Rob Thomas with Carlos Santana, and Sting with Cheb Mami.

November 14
RAI TV | Check local listings for times (CET) | 'Che Tempo Che Fa' (Italy)
Sting will be performing and be interviewed on this show.

November 15
F2 TV | Check local listings for times (CET) | 'Vivement Dimanche' (France)
Sting will be performing on this show.

November 15
HDNET 79 & HDNET 306 | 11.50pm (EST) | 'Chris Botti Live with Orchestra & Special Guests: 2008 Grammy Nominees' (USA)
Jazz music's trumpet sensation, Chris Botti performs with guest vocalists Sting, Paula Cole, Jill Scott, Paul Buchanan, and Gladys Knight in Los Angeles.

November 16
HDNET 79 & HDNET 306 | 4.50am (EST) | 'Chris Botti Live with Orchestra & Special Guests: 2008 Grammy Nominees' (USA)
Jazz music's trumpet sensation, Chris Botti performs with guest vocalists Sting, Paula Cole, Jill Scott, Paul Buchanan, and Gladys Knight in Los Angeles.

November 19
Sky Movies Modern Greats | 1.05am (UK) | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

November 20
BBC Radio 2 | 10pm (UK) | 'Claudia Winkleman's Arts Show' (UK)
Claudia Winkleman rounds up the week's arts action and is joined by pop superstar Sting for an intimate chat about his career and new musical direction.

November 26
Sky Arts 1 | 00.35am + 3pm (UK) | 'Montreux Years' (UK)
Sky Arts presents some of the top highlights from the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival, featuring performances from Sting, The Strokes, Iggy Pop and Deep Purple.

November 26
BBC2 | 7pm (UK) | 'The Culture Show' (UK)
Sting performs 'The Snow It Melts The Soonest' and is interviewed by Lauren Laverne.

November 26
PBS (Check Local Listings for Channel info) | 9pm (USA) | 'Great Performances' (UK)
Sting: A Winter's Night captures the artist in the evocative setting of one of England's most famous cathedrals. Standing on a peninsula overlooking the River Wear in Durham, the 1,000 year-old UNESCO world heritage building is an iconic landmark of Northern England. Inside, the architecture and atmosphere are equally as inspiring, and it is in this setting that Sting is joined by guest musicians, including local Newcastle artists Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian pipes and fiddle), Peter Tickell (fiddle) and Julian Sutton (Melodeon). Esteemed performers from around the world also include Dominic Miller (guitar), Vincent Ségal (cello), Scottish harpist Mary MacMaster, Ira Coleman (bass), Chris Gecker (trumpet), David Mansfield (violin and mandolin), Cyro Baptista, Bashiri Johnson and Rhani Krija (percussion), and vocalists Laila Biali, Lisa Fischer, Jo Lawry and Steven Santoro. Producer Robert Sadin conducts an ensemble of 35 musicians, which includes additional string and brass sections.

November 29
Sky Arts 1 | 1.30am (UK) | 'Video Killed The Radio Star' (UK)
Kevin Godley: Godley has directed videos for U2, Sting, The Edge and The Police. Discover the creative genius behind the lens. Featuring interviews with Bono, Sting and Paul McCartney.

November 30
Sky Movies Indie | 9.40pm (UK) | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

December 4
Sky Screen 2 | 11.40pm (UK) | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

Thanks to Markus, Rüdiger, Anne and Margaret!

Sting in concert - A Winter's Night with Special Guest Chris Botti - December 8 and 9 at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York City... Tickets on sale Monday, November 2 at 12pm EST

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:45:59 -0400

Sting in concert - A Winter's Night with Special Guest Chris Botti - December 8 and 9 at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York City... Tickets on sale Monday, November 2 at 12pm EST

Ticket Prices: $300, $150, $75

In celebration of his new, Deutsche Grammophon release, "If On a Winter's Night...," STING will be performing two exclusive concerts in New York City on December 8 and 9 at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Avenue) at 8pm. Tickets will be available online at Ticketmaster beginning Monday, November 2 at 12PM/EST.

The concert, "A Winter's Night..." will feature Sting performing songs from his newest release, already being hailed as "one of the most magnificent and adventurous albums of the year." He will be joined on stage by an ensemble of thirty-five musicians, including string and brass sections, conducted by producer Robert Sadin. In addition, acclaimed trumpeter, Chris Botti will be making a guest appearance at both concerts, rounding out what is sure to be a very special evening.

"If On a Winter's Night..." conjures the mood and spirit of the season with a diverse collection of songs, carols and lullabies spanning the centuries. Featuring traditional music of the British Isles as its starting point, Sting and guest musicians interpret stirring, folk-based melodies including "The Snow it Melts the Soonest" (traditional Newcastle ballad), "Soul Cake" (traditional English "begging" song), "Christmas at Sea" (traditional Scottish song) "Gabriel's Message" (14th century carol), "Balulalow" (lullaby by Peter Warlock) and "Now Winter Comes Slowly" (Henry Purcell). Two of Sting's own compositions are also featured: "Lullaby for an Anxious Child" and "The Hounds of Winter," which originally appeared on his previous release Mercury Falling.

There will also be a Sting.com fan club exclusive ticket pre-sale for these concerts, beginning Friday, October 30 at 10am EST. The sale will be open to Legacy members for the first two hours and then opened up to all members (subject to ticket availability) at 12pm EST.

Exciting new North East website interviews Kathryn Tickell...

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:45:11 -0400

ne4me is an exciting new website for people looking for the inside track on what's going on in the North East.

Their aim is to give you top recommendations about things to do in the region from a team of writers and photographers in the know. We'll bring you previews of the best upcoming shows and concerts and exclusive interviews with regional personalities - also in audio.

In advance of Kathryn Tickell's performance at the Sage in Gateshead, when Sting will join Kathryn as her special guest, ne4me have recently interviewed Kathryn Tickell. Check out their interview at http://www.ne4me.co.uk/celebrities-3/northumbrian-kathryn-tickell-61.html

''Sting: A Winter's Night... Live from Durham Cathedral'' to be released on DVD November 24... New Great Performances Special to premiere Thanksgiving Night on Public Television...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:00:01 -0400

On November 24, Deutsche Grammophon will release a special, live concert performance on DVD entitled, 'Sting: A Winter's Night... Live from Durham Cathedral'. Filmed at the magnificent Durham Cathedral near Sting's hometown of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in Northern England, the DVD features music off his forthcoming album, 'If On A Winter's Night...' in-stores, October 27.

Recorded in HD and produced by Universal Music Classical Management & Productions (UMCMP), in association with Thirteen for WNET.ORG, the program will premiere on PBS's Great Performances series on Thanksgiving night, Thursday, November 26 at 9 pm EST (checking local listings). International broadcasts are planned for later this year, with further air dates to be announced locally in each country.

'Sting: A Winter's Night... Live from Durham Cathedral' captures the artist in the unique setting of England's most famous cathedral. Standing on a peninsula overlooking the River Wear in Durham, the one thousand year old UNESCO world heritage building is one of the most iconic landmarks of Northern England. Inside Durham Cathedral, the architecture and atmosphere is as equally inspiring and it is in this setting that Sting was joined by guest musicians including local Newcastle artists Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian pipes and fiddle), Peter Tickell (fiddle) and Julian Sutton (Melodeon). Esteemed performers from around the world also include Dominic Miller (guitar), Vincent Ségal (cello), Scottish harpist Mary Macmaster, Ira Coleman (bass), Chris Gekker (trumpet), David Mansfield (violin and mandolin), Cyro Baptista, Bashiri Johnson and Rhani Krija (percussion) and vocalists Laila Biali, Lisa Fischer, Jo Lawry, and Steven Santoro. Producer, Robert Sadin conducted the ensemble of 35 musicians, which includes additional string and brass sections.

Both the new album and DVD conjure the mood and spirit of the season with a diverse collection of songs, carols and lullabies spanning the centuries. Featuring traditional music of the British Isles as its starting point, Sting and guest musicians interpret stirring, folk-based melodies including 'The Snow it Melts the Soonest' (traditional Newcastle ballad), 'Soul Cake' (traditional English "begging" song), 'Christmas at Sea' (traditional Scottish song), 'Gabriel's Message' (14th century carol), 'Balulalow' (lullaby by Peter Warlock) and 'Now Winter Comes Slowly' (Henry Purcell). Two of Sting's own compositions are also featured: 'Lullaby for an Anxious Child' and 'The Hounds of Winter',' which originally appeared on his previous release 'Mercury Falling'.

In addition, the DVD programme features a setting of the 'Coventry Carol' in which Sting and musicians are joined by the Durham Cathedral Boys' Choir, as well as songs not included on the album - Peter Warlock's haunting 'Bethlehem Down', a lively arrangement of the traditional song 'I Saw Three Ships' and Sting's own 'Ghost Story'.

'Sting: A Winter's Night... the Documentary' features a behind-the-scenes look at the concert's genesis, beginning with the album recording sessions at Sting's home in the Italian countryside, leading up to the final rehearsals at Durham Cathedral. Along the way, Sting revisits places from his childhood and reunites with old friends and band mates, swapping stories and reminiscing.

Featuring both a compelling live concert and evocative film footage, 'Sting: A Winter's Night...' was directed and produced by the Emmy award winning team, Jim Gable and Ann Kim of Graying & Balding, Inc.

Sting chats to the Wall Street Journal - ''Sting explained that the album explores the "double-edge" of the Christmas season. "I think the winter has this almost gravitational pull to someplace warm, cozy - like home or the church...''

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:01:41 -0400

In advance of his new holiday album, "If On a Winter's Night," Sting dropped by the Journal's offices today. The singer wore a gray Dries Van Noten suit with heavy brown boots and a thick beard -- a kind of Grizzly Adams meets Manhattan look. "I have no idea what season we're in," he said, addressing the temperate weather outside. "I tell you, it's serious. We're losing winter." Instead of a typical "Rudolph"-esque collection of Christmas jingles, Sting has recorded a cycle of songs that explore winter themes, like "Cold Song," by the 17th century composer Henry Purcell with lyrics by John Dryden. Sample line: "Let me freeze again to death." Cheery!

Sting explained that the album explores the "double-edge" of the Christmas season. "I think the winter has this almost gravitational pull to someplace warm, cozy -- like home or the church," he said. But for people who can't make it home or have no home to go to, it's "the worst time of year. I think the album wants to balance those two things." Stay tuned for more with Sting to appear on WSJ.com

To watch Sting's video chat visit WSJ.com

New Sting.com contest to win signed photographs and latest winners announced...

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:08 -0400

The winners of the signed photographs of Sting were: Bernard Dunne, Jennifer Lunn, Marc Arens, Minako Kasamatsu, Philip Smith, Steve Leicester and Yukiko Ishigami. They were the first names drawn who correctly answered that the song on "If On A Winter's Night..." inspired by the Sarabande from J. S. Bach's Sixth Cello Suite is "You Only Cross My Mind In Winter".. Thanks to everyone that entered!

Details of previous contest winners are...

The winners of the Sunday Times magazines featuring Sting were: Anne Karin Blix Grimestad, Andrea Berndt, Anne Güntert, Erik van Maren and Ursula Nientied. They were the first names drawn who correctly answered that the sculptor/artist responsible for the Angel of the North was Anthony Gormley. Thanks to everyone that entered!

The winners of the Twin Spirits DVDs were: Jennifer Bark, Yara Nash and Cynthia Stallman. They were the first three names drawn who correctly answered that English cathedral where Sting and Trudie performed Twin Spirts in 2006 was Salisbury Cathedral. Thanks to everyone that entered!

The winners of the Sting.com photobook/dvd sets that were signed by Sting were: Heather Burrell, Fiona Paul, Mats Wahlund, Ursula Nientied and Willie O'Meara. They were the first five names drawn who correctly identified the song Sting was describing as 'Christmas at Sea'. Thanks to everyone that entered!

The winners of the tickets to attend the World Premiere performances of "If On A Winter's Night..." at Durham Cathedral in September 2009 were: Alan Page, Chris Fontes, Chris Smith, Debbie Gibbons, Dennis Flynn, Dick Verboom, Donna Campbell, Drew Dudgeon, Emmanuelle Fairbairn, Eric Clements, Erica Toohey, Fiona York, Gary Allen, Gary Hardy, Graham Tarvet, Gwen Hitchins, Helen Bryen, Homayoun Vahidi, Ian Kemp, Jacqui Jones, James Farrell, Jamie Duncan, Javae Jordan, Jay Moore, Jayne Hawkins, Jesus Blanco, Joshua Davidson, Judith Andrews, Julie Stavert, Karen Moore, Kilian Christanell, Liz Anderson, Louisa Hewitt, Margrit Kappeler, Marie-Therese Higgins, Mark Austen, Mark Pitchforth, Massimiliano Michetti, Mauro Petriaggi, May Shovlin, Michael Keane, Michelle Partenheimer, Nadine Gothe, Neil Sutherland, Nicky Payne, Paul Byrom, Peter Broeckhoven, Peter Craggs, Pierpaulo Comba, Robyn Rairigh, Rodney Russell, Rose-Marie Manders, Sandy Lopez, Sarah Clarke, Sharon Oliver, Steve Gow, Steve Leicester, Steve Molyneux, Steven O Neill, and Wendy Harrison.

All the winners have been emailed with further information and instructions. If your name appears on the above list and you have not received an email please log into the community area and send us a private message. The above legacy members were the first sixty names drawn from those that entered and each win a single ticket to see Sting perform at Durham Cathedral. Thanks to everyone that entered!

The winners of the CD/DVD sets of 'Chris Botti in Boston' signed by Chris were: Sharon Ross, Charlotte Nicholes, Brian Houltham, Andrew Corbett and Rebecca Derenne. These were the first five members who's names were drawn that correctly answered that Josh Groban was the Grammy nominated American singer-songwriter that joined Chris, Sting and Dominic Miller to perform 'Shape Of My Heart' during the concert. Thanks to everyone that entered and special thanks to Chris, Bobby, Jeremy and Sophia for arranging the prizes.

The winners of our tickets to see Sting & Edin Karamazov perform in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth were: Ruth McKeown, Nadia Suric and Valerie Sawbridge respectively. They were the first names drawn for each show who correctly answered that the musician who originally commissioned the lute that Sting plays on tour and gave it to him as a a gift was Dominic Miller. Congratulations to the winners and a big thanks to everyone who entered!

The winners of the five copies of "Lyrics" signed by Sting were: Katerina Ungrova, Elysabeth Van Moer, Karen Taylor, Daniela Teixeira and Sandra Amedick. They were the first five names drawn who correctly identified the song Sting described as "The song seems to have lent itself to many situations throughout its life. It was originally written on the island of Montserrat during a weeklong tropical storm. The rain just kept falling and falling..." as 'Fragile'. Congratulations to the winners and a big thanks to everyone who entered!

The winners of tickets for the final Police concert at Madison Square Garden on August 7 were: Amir Ali Ansar, Ana Krauchik, Analia Fernandez, Beata Semik, Bill Bredice, Brad Garrett, Brian Baker, Chris Orange, Christine Bergan, Crestine Hauser, Dave Gordon, Dermot O'Shea, Erin Knopf, Garry Allen, Gina O'Connor, Giovanni De Flora, Helen Byfield, Jeff Hackett, Jill Coogan, Joëlle Boyer, John McAleese, Julie Sullivan, Kate Dreyer, Kaz Yasuhara, Kerry Johnson, Lance Austein, Linda Thompson, Lisa Spear, Liz Montana, Lorraine Pasquali, Lynn McGowan, Marc Shafer, Michael Sprance, Michelle Liang, Mike Tabberer, Myrna Petrie, Paul Zelin, Phennet Spencer, Phyllis Drohan, Rebecca Derenne, Rich Grahame, Sanjay Paranandi, Shawn Farrell, Susan Ziegerhofer, Terri Locati, Tim Fredericks, Toni Davis, Tom Clark, Vik Huddleston, Willie O'Meara.

Tickets to Herbie Hancock Tribute Concert where Sting will perform...
Ther winners of the five pairs of tickets were Jennifer Balin, Mark Wilkerson, Barbara Krahn, Tracy Sharf and Jessica Polson. They were the first five names drawn who correctly answered that the Rodger's & Hart song that Sting and Herbie recorded for Sting's 'At The Movies' CD was 'My Funny Valentine'.

'Antarctica - The Global Warning' books endorsed by Sting and signed by author Sebastain Copeland...
The winners of the three signed copies of Sebastian Copeland's book 'Antarctica - The Global Warning' signed by the author were Anne Guntert, Stephen Winfield and Rebecca Derenne. They were the first three names drawn who correctly answered that Carnegie Hall is the venue at which Sting & Trudie host regular fundraising benefits concerts for the Rainforest Foundation.

'Welcome To The Voice' CDs signed by Sting...
The winners of the further five copies of Steve Nieve's CD 'Welcome To The Voice' signed by Sting were Denise Bradshaw, Alan Carleton, Cynthia Janus, Elodie Hannoy and Helen Hill. They were the first five names drawn who correctly answered that the singer with whom Sting's character falls in love with in the opera collects perfumes.

Signed copies of Kipper's new album 'This Is Different'
The winners of the signed Kipper albums were Tanny Van Loon, Susan Thompson, Steve Fowler, Nuno Leite and Christopher Cole. These were the first five names drawn who correctly answered that Kipper's real name is Mark Eldridge and that he first met Sting when working on the 'The Mighty'.

'Welcome To The Voice' CDs signed by Sting...
The winners of the copies of Steve Nieve's new album 'Welcome To The Voice' that have been autographed by Sting are Thomas Dalhoff and Kelly Cornacchia. They were the first names drawn who had correctly answered that Carmen had a different type of voice to Butterfly and Norma and it was a mezzo soprano.

Tickets to attend the 'The Police Rehearsals' at the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles
The winners of our contest to attend 'The Police Rehearsals' at the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles were Amy Sedlazek, Kathy Wheeler, Karen McDermott, Camille Wodicka, Danna Jackson, Kirstin Duckett, Michelle Sheridan, Kevin Watson, Tina Verder, Julie Hasting, Bob Ruthven, Doug Endicott, Sheila Bishop, Lee Vehe, Tammi Reed, Maggie White, Matt Beatty, Anna Nasser, Gerardo Camarillo and Michael Humphreys. These were the first twenty names drawn who correctly answered that The Police were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

'Yoga Beyond Belief' signed by Ganga White
The winners of our twenty signed copies of Ganga White's new book "Yoga Beyond Belief" which features a foreword especially written by Sting were Arpeggio Locati, Alison Wilkinson, Gloria Muylders, Christine Bergan, AnnMarie Schupper, Maria Navarro, Josef Kolarik, Lynn McGowan, Kaan Gunes, Carl Gjerdrum, Riekie van Haren, Robin Battson, Allison Touchstone, Steve Thorpe, Uwe Schatter, Julie Jennings, Neil Sutherland, Tracy Stokes, Tanny Kelly, and Mark Austen. These were the first twenty names drawn who correctly answered that Ganga White founded the White Lotus Foundation.

Broken Music Fan Club DVD's signed by Sting
The winners of the copies of the Broken Music Fan Club DVD signed by Sting are Richard Armstrong, Jacques Dufort, Norbert Kuehn, Luis Morate, Barbara Krahn, Timothy Vottero, Herman Soomeren, John Colohan, Cathleen Kelly and Peter Bamber. These were the first ten names drawn from the new members that took out premium memberships during our Christmas promotion. Congratulations to you all and welcome to the Fan Club! Your DVD's will be sent out in the next few days.

Vinyl copies of 'Songs From The Labyrinth' signed by Sting
The winners of the two copies of the vinyl release of 'Songs From The Labyrinth' that have been signed by Sting are John McAleese and Elisabeth Evanston. They were the first two members drawn this morning who had correctly answered that Edin Karamazov was born in Bosnia.

'Songs From The Labyrinth' posters signed by Sting
The winners of beautiful 'Songs From The Labyrinth' promotional posters signed by Sting are Markus Vlasveld, Jane Larkham, Kathleen McAloon, Martin Heger and Linda Sayers. They were the first names drawn who had correctly answered that the letter which Sting reads extracts from on the album was sent by John Dowland to Sir Robert Cecil.

Tickets that money could not buy to see Sting and Edin Karamazov perform at the Santa Maria delle Grazie church in Milan
Alison Wilkinson, Andrzej Tomczewski, Anita De Dapper, Annamaria Scognamiglio, Anthony Caratti, Conny Hes, Maria A Gomez-Navarro, Elena Valsecchi, Elisabeth Feichtenberger, Emiko Furutachi, Enrico Mario Pierotti, Gilly Gerardis, Giovanni Pollastri, Giovanni Recchia, Guido Colombo, Hani Almendary, Harold Verhagen, James Bardwell, James Grant, Jan Vingerhoets, Jean-Yves Guyon, Joelle Boyer, Jonathan Lidster, Luigi Guastella, Luuk Schroijen, Lydia Di Corato, Claudia Nicolini, Maria Casale, Massimiliano Michetti, Massimo Arbasi, Mauro Petriaggi, Michele Piumini, Miyuki Goto, Neil Sutherland, Oliver Gie?e, Paola Alberganti, Paola Gatti, Peter Thorne, Pierpaolo Comba, Roberto Cecchini, Sherri McFerran, Simon Allison, Simon Castellan, Stefano Tescaro, Stepanka Krizova, Steven O'Neill, Sue Lewis-Byatt, Thomas Baettig, Uwe Schatter and Valeria Vanella.

Tony Bennett 'Duets' CD featuring Sting
The winners of the copies of Tony Bennett's 'Duets' CD which features Sting on 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' were Sumit Ray, Alan Carleton, Rebecca Pierce, Lynne Ferguson and John Foyle. They were the first names drawn who had correctly answered that Tony Bennett was born in New York City.

Tickets to see Sting at the Cutting Room, NYC
The winners of the ten tickets to see Sting at the Cutting Room in New York on November 6 were Mary Saragoussi, Kathy Knibbs, Martin Creaven, Barbara Kishbaugh, Mario Carvajal, Josh Corwin, Ilanit Tal, Sharon Clark, Shari Poppe, and Margie Tolen. They were the first names drawn who had correctly answered that Sting appeared on Sam Moore's album 'Overnight Sensational'.

Signed Copies of 'Songs From The Labyrinth'
The winners of the five copies of 'Songs From The Labyrinth' signed by Sting were Clare Connor, Tony Ioannidis, Brett Peters, Signe Cousins and Thomas Dalhoff. The following members also each won an unsigned copy of the album - Massimiliano Michetti, Diane Gough, Alison Percival, Barbara Power, Christopher Simar, Maggie Stapleton, Angela Fitzmorris, Sue Watters, David Buckingham, Nikki Kallen, Lyle Matz, Peter Craggs, Melody Schneider, Eitin Haskett and Joel Newman. They were the first names drawn who had correctly answered that John Dowland was born in 1563.

Tony Bennett 'Duets' CD featuring Sting
The winners of the copies of Tony Bennett's 'Duets' CD which features Sting on 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' were Beth Lander, Sandra Doknjas, Jodi Espinosa and Kristian Eräkare. They were the first names drawn who had correctly answered that Tony Bennett's real name is Anthony Dominick Benedetto.

Tickets to see Sting live at XM Radio Artist Confidential
The forty winners in our draw to win tickets to see Sting's 'Artist Confidential' performance at XM Satellite Radio in New York on October 9 are Aimee Labadessa, Anita Fiedel, Caesar Darias, Carole Donnelly, Cathy Litrofsky, Christina Nelson, Cristina Correll, Deborah Metro, Fred Berthelot, Gerard Marks, Jane Wilson, Joni Incontro, Joy Golden, Kelley Miller, Kevin Nedd, Kim Fross, Laura Penna, Lea Argenti, Lisa Hornby, Louis DiBernardo, Maria Donatucci, Marjorie Hong, Melanie Emmet, Melissa LaMantia, Michelle Kelly, Michelle McEvoy, Michelle Turnbull, Mimi Hodgkins, Nancy Williams, Nicole Labrecque, Pamela Ayers, Phyllis Drohan, Rob Duffy, Sam Rabinovitch, Sheila Barnes, Sophia Tarlas, Stephanie Schragger, Thomas Clark, Tod Yaeger and Felicia Zammit. These were the first forty Legacy members to have their names drawn. Congratulations to them and commiserations to the hundreds of you that entered.

VIP Tickets to see Sting on the 'Ellen DeGeneres' show
The winners of the two VIP tickets to see Sting on the 'Ellen DeGeneres' show on September 20 were Andrew Vargas and Lori Selcer. They were the first two members drawn who correctly answered that Ellen has been chosen to nomination next year's Academy Awards ceremony.

'Everyone Stares - The Police Inside Out' DVD
The winners of the copies of the 'Everyone Stares - The Police Inside Out' DVDs are Christopher Simar, Wendy Harrison and Marna Raitanen. They were the first three members drawn who correctly answered that The Police's first show in the USA was at CBGBs.

'Chris Botti Live With Orchestra & Special Guests'
The winners of the signed copies of Chris Botti's new DVD - 'Chris Botti Live With Orchestra & Special Guests' are Michelle Partenheimer, Dana Pero, Joy Golden, Rita Baumsten and Pat DeBenedictis. They were the first five members drawn who correctly answered that Chris serenaded Trudie Styler at the recording of the show.

Commemorative Miniature Malta Stamp Sheets
The winners of the Commemorative Miniature Stamp Sheets that were issued recently by the Maltese post office are Sebastian Mild, Pierpaolo Comba, Kevin Tanaka, Sean Keane, Libertad Graff, Sharon Oliver, Rita Baumsten, Garry Allen, Hal Rosenblum, and Yoko Hangai. They were the first ten members drawn who correctly answered that Malta was awarded the George Cross for bravery in 1942.

Signed 'Stormy Monday' DVDs
The winners of the new 'Stormy Monday' DVD's signed by Sting & Mike Figgis are Armando Grati, Steven Pearce and Jacqueline Kane. They were the first names drawn who had correctly answered that the name of the character Sting played in the film was 'Finney'.

Herbie Hancock 'Possibilities' DVD
The winners of the new Herbie Hancock DVD 'Possibilities' - which features Sting re-recording 'Sister Moon' with Herbie - are Timo Saajoranta, Andrea Peters, Mats Wahlund and Cristine Goodman who each win a copy of the DVD. These were the first four members drawn who had correctly answered that Herbie guested with Sting at the Toronto gig on the Sacred Love tour.

Sheryl Crow/Sting single 'Always On Your Side'
The winners of the Sheryl Crow/Sting singles were Nicholas Nakadate, Annette Prein-Theisen, Pamela Roney, Terry Howell and Olaf Oliver Riemer. The winner of the 'Wildflower' album was Osamu Mohri. These were the first six names drawn who had correctly answered that the Sheryl's middle is Suzanne.

t.A.T.u. single 'Friend of Foe' featuring Sting
The winners of the new t.A.T.u. single 'Friend of Foe' - on which Sting plays bass - are Joshua Romaine, Heather McWalter, Marco Hoekjen, Jamie Bates and Anne Thorning-Petersen. These were the first five names who correctly answered that the names of the two members of t.A.T.u. are Yulia and Elena.

Il Palagio Gift Boxes of Olive Oil & Honey
The winners of the gift boxes of Sting & Trudie's very own Olive Oil and Honey grown at their Tuscan estate were Susan Mengham, Tanny Kelly, Etsuko Nishiyama, Philip Reardon Smith and Joel Weinberg. These were the first five names drawn who correctly answered that the English translation of 'Il Palagio' is 'The Palace'.

Sweet Tracks 2006
The winners of the copies of the Best Buy 'Sweet Tracks 2005' compilations which includes the Sting/Dominic Miller penned 'Lullaby To An Anxious Child' were Robin Battson, Manuel da Silva, Cheryl Jose, Cristine Goodman and Jodi Espinosa. These were the first five names who correctly answered that the name of the track Sting recorded for the Sweet Tracks collection in 2003 was 'Bethlehem Down'.

Chris Botti's new CD 'To Love Again'
The winners of our latest contest for copies of the new Chris Botti album 'To Love Again' which features a terrific line-up of guest artists including Sting, were Alan Page, Sarah Langenbach, Darren Gray, Emmanuel Delbergue and Jennifer Lunn. These were the first five names drawn who correctly answered that the song with lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman that Sting recorded in 1995 was 'Moonlight'.

The Synchronicity Concert DVDs
The winners of the 'Synchronicity' concert DVDs were Judie Goldental, Helen Hall, Dick Verboom, Sharon Oliver and Milacic Michel. These were the first five names drawn who correctly answered that The Police's 'Synchronicity' tour opened in the city of Chicago.

Les Paul & Friends 'American Made World Played'
The winners of the new Les Paul album 'American Made World Played' which features a cracking version of 'Love Sneakin' Up On You' by Sting and Joss Stone are Michelle Goossen, Tammy Popeck and Cathy Alauze. These were the first three names drawn who correctly answered that Les Paul is 90 years old. Each wins copy of the CD.

Dual Disc copies of Chris Botti's album 'When I Fall In Love'
The winners of our contest for Dual Disc copies of Chris Botti's album 'When I Fall In Love' are Christine Bergan, Beth Wolsleben, Cynthia Jill Janus, Janice Oten-Jensen and Amanda Engelen. These were the first five names drawn who correctly answered that the song 'When I Fall In Love' was written by by Edward Heyman and Victor Young.

Broken Music T-Shirt signed by Sting & the Band
The winner of the June prize draw for a Broken Music signed T-shirt was Mark Reiser. Remember, anyone ordering merchandise from the store during July is automatically entered into a prize draw for a Broken Music T-shirt signed by Sting and the band!

Broken Music T-Shirt signed by Sting & the Band
The winner of the 'Broken Music' T-Shirt signed by Sting, Dominic, Josh and Shane was Tomoko Adachi. Tomoko's name was drawn from all the entries who correctly identified the two artists of whom Sting took the back catalogue of records upon signing with A&M as being Quincy Jones and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Irving Plaza Concert Tickets
The winner of the pair of tickets to attend the 'Sting Broken Music NYC One Night Only' concert was Dorrie Chang. Dorrie's name was drawn from all the entries who correctly identified the location we were looking for in our question as being the 'Spanish Battery'.

Bring On The Night DVD & CD
The winners of the 'Bring On The Night' DVD & CDs were Suzie Rohnert, Dean Robert Temme and Kathleen McAloon. They were the first names drawn who correctly answered that the 'Bring On The Night' movie was directed by Michael Apted'.

My Funny Valentine - Sting At The Movies CDs
The winners of the 'My Funny Valentine - Sting At The Movies' CDs were Mike Child, Barbro Dahlström, Heather McWalter, Martin Vauchel, Annabelle Wyatt. They were the first names drawn who correctly answered that Sting covered the song 'Moonlight' for the movie 'Sabrina'.

Broken Music Sneak Preview Concert Ticket Winners
The winners of the tickets to attend Sting's Broken Music Sneak Preview concert at the Roxy in Los Angeles were Ceresa Aberg, Katie Adams, Damon Aldrich, PatBeneteau, Karen Bullington, Christopher Collins, Dave Cooley, Denise Mirena Eaton, Edward Fohrman, Chelsea Alexis Gabriel, Luis Guereca, Karen Hearn-Abbott, David Hussey, Amy Johnson, Jennifer Jolicoeur, Pam Krowitz, Allen Lissarrague, Kim Meyer, James Mitchell, Marna Raitanen, David Rose, Michelle Taunton, Maria Uribe, Ellen Weinraub, Beverly Williford, and Leah Winck. Each won a pair of tickets. The correctly named Sting's band line-up for the tour as Sting, Dominic Miller, Shane Fontayne and Josh Freese.

Tickets to see Sting on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The winners of the tickets to see Jimmy Kimmel Live! were Sarah Kim, Christine Harrington, Steve Davidson, Robyn Davider-Ristin and Karen Hearn-Abbott. Thanks to everyone that entered. They were the first five members drawn who gave the correct answer that it was Sting's Grandmother who asked him to stop playing that 'broken music'.

Tickets to see the Pittsburgh Ballet
The winner of the tickets to see The Pittsbutgh Ballet in New York including their performance of Sting/ING situations was "Stingbaby".

Latest Phantom Planet CDs
The winners of our copies of the latest Phantom Planet CD, the band that will be supporting Sting on his spring 'Broken Music' tour were Gretchen Wilkinson, Mark Parminter, Karen McMahon, Teresa Calabrese and Nicky George. They were the first names drawn who correctly answered that the name of the band's song which is used in the US TV series "The OC" is 'California'.

'Cities 97' Sampler CDs featuring 'Fields of Gold'
The winners of our copies of the 'Cities 97' sampler CDs which feature a previously unreleased acoustic version of 'Fields of Gold' recorded for Sirius Radio were Juli Bramham, Ana Krauchik, Alan Carleton and Padma Konduri. They were the first names drawn who correctly answered that the name of the Corsican band who covered 'Fields of Gold' as 'Terre d'Oru' was I Muvrini.

'Reason To Give' 2005 Calendars
The winners of our copies of the 'Reasons to Give' 2005 Calendars which feature Sting were Kallen Dowdle and Becky Sigurnjak. They were the first two names drawn who correctly answered that Sting was born in 1951.

'Bridget Jones Beyond The Edge Of Reason' CDs
The winners of our copies of the 'Bridget Jones Beyond the Edge of Reason' CDs which feature the new version of 'We'll Be Together' by Sting and Annie Lennox were Kathy Willner, Maria Medina, Ann Maria Reid, Laura Fullen, and Maureen Owens. They were the first names drawn who correctly answered that the author of 'Bridget Jones Diary' was Helen Fielding.

Limited Edition 'Radio On' Movie Posters
The winners of the limited edition 'Radio On' posters were Hardeep Kharbanda, Gary Bowskill and Rüdiger Höckel. They were the first names drawn who had correctly answered that Sting performed Eddie Cochran's 'Three Steps To Heaven' in the movie. Congratulations to them and thanks to the bfi for providing the posters!

Signed copies of Chris Botti's 'When I Fall In Love'
The winners of the five signed copies of Chris Botti's new CD 'When I Fall In Love' were David Rose, Luuk Schroijen, Peter Ostreicher, Alan Carleton and Debbie Brookes. These were the first five names selected at random after the closing date who had correctly identified that the title track 'When I Fall In Love' was written by Edward Heyman and Victor Young.

Second Row Tickets to see Sting at the Hollywood Bowl #2
The winner of the second pair of second row tickets to see Sting at The Hollywood Bowl on September 28 was Sting.com member Steve Davidson. Steve's was the first entry drawn who had correctly identified Melanie Griffith as the Hollywood actress who appeared in the video for Sting's 'All This Time' single. Thanks to everyone that entered and our congratulations to Steve!

Second Row Tickets to see Sting at the Hollywood Bowl
The winner of the pair of second row tickets to see Sting at The Hollywood Bowl on September 28 was Sting.com member Caprice Ridgeway. Caprice's was the first entry drawn who had correctly identified Andy Summers as the guest musician who played guitar with Sting for a few numbers during his concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Octobe 1991. We had a huge number of entries, so our thanks to everyone that entered and our congratulations to Caprice!

Be a Rock Photographer and snap Sting in concert
The winner of the Rock Photographer contest to photograph Sting in the pit with photographer Kevin Mazur and get their hands on a top class digital camera rig was Lorie Brown. Lorie told us "I just can't believe it, I've never won anything. My husband bought me Sting's book in August for my birthday, and then we went to see his show - my friends are teasing me about all of this Sting". The runner up was Philip Scott.

Signed Bruce Hornsby 'Halcyon Days' CDs
The winners of the five signed copies of the new Bruce Hornsby album 'Halcyon Days' (which features Sting) were Ed Cabrera, Marton Mihalyfi, Brett Pfeiffer, Erin Thomas, and Gilbert Willinger. All five correctly answered that Bruce Hornsby has won 3 Grammy awards. Ed, Marton, Brett, Erin and Gilbert were the first five names to be drawn after the closing date that had provided the correct answer.

'Stolen Car' 2x12" Promotional Remixes
The winners of the double 12" promotional packs of 'Stolen Car' remixes were David Rose, Patricia Curriston, and Thom Leonard. All three correctly identified the car which was featured in the 'Desert Rose' video as a Jaguar. David, Patricia and Thom were the first three names to be drawn after the closing date that had provided the correct answer.

Tickets to see Sting live on 'Conan'
The winners of the two tickets to see Sting on the Conan show on July 8 are Pam Roney and Cathy Furtak. They were the first names drawn at random from those that applied for the tickets.

London concert posters signed by Sting and all the band
The winners of the three London concert posters signed by Sting and all the band were Roger Puplett, Rob Gamlin and Karen Moore. These were the three first names selected at random who had correctly identified the five people described by Sting in the passages we gave from 'Broken Music' as being Cherry Vanilla, Stewart Copeland, Keith Moon, Stanley Clarke and Andy Summers.

Jimi Hendrix Tribute 'Power of Soul' albums
The winners of the three copies of the new Jimi Hendrix tribute album 'Power of Soul' which features Sting's cover of 'The Wind Cries Mary' are Kostas Roumeliotis, Kevin MacKey and Emma Turian. They were the first names drawn who had correctly stated that the Hendrix song covered extensively by Sting during his 'Soul Cages' tour was 'Purple Haze'. Congratulations to our winners, and thanks to everyone that entered.

'Cold Mountain' DVDs
The winners of the five copies of 'Cold Mountain' DVDs were Sarah Kim, Ceresa Aberg, Kevin Caslin, Susan Ziegerhofer and Jacqui Merrell. These were the first five names selected at random after the closing date who had correctly identified that 'Cold Mountain' received seven Academy Award nominations.

Sacred Love European Tour Edition CD/DVD
The winners of the three copies of the new European tour edition of 'Sacred Love' which includes a DVD of Sting's MuchMoreMusic performance in Toronto are Anna Cusatis, Candi Obetts and Sofie Kodanashvili. They were the first names drawn who had correctly stated that Sting opened his European tour at the end of April in Helsinki. Congratulations to our winners, and thanks to everyone that entered.

Fan Club Plaques
The winners of the two Fan Club Plaques were "nikkiearl" and "jennywuest". These were the two first names selected at random who had completed their user profiles.

Fender Guitar signed by Dominic Miller
The winner of the Fender guitar signed by Dominic Miller was Diana Mathison. Diana was the first name drawn after the closing date who correctly gave the name of the occasional band that Dominic Miller plays in alongside Pino Pallidino and Manu Katche as "The Tweeters". Congratulations Diana, and thanks to everyone that entered.

Letterman Tickets for March 4 in New York
The winners of the tickets for the recording of the 'Letterman' show featuring Sting were Heidi Sohng and Martin Gregory.

Dominic Miller 'Shapes' Launch Party tickets
The winners of the tickets to Dominic Miller's launch party at Joe's Pub in New York on March 4 for the international release of 'Shapes' were Christina Nelson, Adrianne Duncan, Melissa Goodwin, Diana Reale and Michael Gelina. They were the first names drawn who correctly identified the song that Dominic co-wrote with Sting on 1996's 'Mercury Falling' album as being 'La Belle Dame Sans Regrets'.

Signed copies of Chris Botti's 'A Thousand Kisses Deep' CD
The winners of the signed copies of Chris Botti's album 'A Thousand Kisses Deep' were David Rose, Sandy Givens, Sam MacDonald, John Osborne, Sabrina Lamberson, Mike Child, Tom Mergaerts, Kaisuliina Vihanti, Shawn Farrell, and Jake Weir. These were the first ten names drawn who correctly identified the names of the two songs on which Sting performs on Chris's DVD 'Night Sessions Live in Concert' were 'Moon Over Bourbon Street' and 'In The Wee Small Hours'.

'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' soundtrack CDs
The winners of the 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' soundtrack CDs which features a new remix of 'Never Coming Home' were Ann Carpenter, Wendy De Wilde, David Pavey, Terri Locati, and Carey Piret. All five correctly named the Fab 5 as being Kyan Douglas, Ted Allen, Carson Kressley, Jai Rodriguez, and Thom Filicia. They were the first five names drawn and each win a copy of the CD.

'You Will Be My Ain True Love' Oscar Promo CDs
The winners of the 'For Your Consideration' promo CDs of 'You Will Be My Ain True Love' were Helen Hall, Kathy Kirkaldie, Robin Smith, Ana Krauchik and Debi Bradford. All five correctly named the two songs for which Sting has previously been nominated for an Oscar as being 'Until' and 'My Funny Friend And Me'. They were the first five names drawn and each win a copy of this exclusive CD.

Attend Sting's final rehearsal in Miami
The winners of our tickets to see See Sting's final rehearsal show in Miami were: afshinghazi, agehl77, ALEX, arilina, barbarajgillis, bassmanv, berrycb, blueturtles, bobgillis, bocagator, branwyn, cacardinale, caliali, caroldekkers, chels, corazon, croutier, ctoddh, dannymatta, davidhchoate, dawnpardo, dawnwerner, divar, djhend, dmcdanse, dp4466, e.lubin, Eric, farahs, fettes, fluxy, fragile, g093146, Galador, gary1, gratciel, haims, hal2002, Hondo, intears, jenvargas, jghazi, jhatae, johnnyjumpstart, JROSE1971, KAMALI, karenmoseley, kburgman, kcpetty, keith, KelleyTexas, Kimmi, kpa, ktfreddy, laivindil, lambypie, laurel, leelin, linieres1, lisavogel, lmondich, Lolly56, love, Luzia, Madlyn, magnus, MALLONKDM, manski2, marrae, mb1354, michi024, mjbelen, msnadler, ndellobuono, outofh2o, PADOS, patcan, pksmith68, psychjungster, ready123, ricksbc, riekookagake, rlj1010, savage, Schnubbedibix, shariqkhan, shortcake8, shoup, shulbert, SmoothShoes, SophiaD, spoulin, steelydan, surpata, thebobscott, tuftsguy, uloebich, vandela, xv17p88, and yasurin.

'Cold Mountain' Soundtracks
The winners of the 'Cold Mountain' soundtrack CDs were Beverly Williford, James Andrews, Jurgen Telier, Kenzie McCurdy and Linda McKee. All five correctly named the author of 'Cold Mountain' as Charles Frazier. Beverly and James were the first two names drawn and each win copies of the soundtrack signed by Sting. Jurgen, Kenzie and Linda win unsigned copies

Tickets to see Sting on Jay Leno
The winner of a pair of tickets to see Sting on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' is Luis Guereca. Congratulations to Luis who correctly answered that it was the Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles where much of Sting's 'Inside' DVD was filmed!!

Copies of the Best Buy 'Sweet Tracks' CD
The winners of the copies of the new Best Buy 'Sweet Tracks' compilation CD which includes Sting's recording of 'Bethlehem Down' were Enrico Mario Pierotti, Tony Ioannidis, Noelle Smith, Jenna Nelson and Roy Kennedy. Congratulations to all our winners, who were the first five names drawn who correctly answered that 'Gabriel's Message' was released on the B-side of the UK single 'Russians'.

Copies of the 'Songs of Love' CD
The winners of the copies of the special Sting/Victoria's Secret CD 'Songs of Love' were Roger Puplett, Stacie Sherer, Patrick Kehrer, Jacqui Jones and Manuel da Silva. These were the first five names drawn who had correctly answered that the only album not contributing a track to the 'Songs of Love' compilation was 'Ten Summoner's Tales'. Each person wins a copy of the 'Songs of Love CD'.

Signed copies of 'Broken Music' Contest
The winners of our copies of 'Broken Music' signed by Sting were Stephen Schoenborn, Nicole Labrecque and Carlos de Jesus. They were the first names drawn who correctly answered that Last Exit's only single release was 'Whispering Voices'

Wristbands to see Sting in Toronto
The winners of a pair of wristbands to see Sting on the 'MuchMoreMusic' Sting Special in Toronto on November 14 were Jock Lowndes and Bruce Greenwood. Each wins wristbands for themselves and a guest.

'Sacred Love' album pre-sale Sweepstakes
The winner of a pair of tickets for a North American show of her choice was Christa Teeple. The five runners up who each win a signed copy of "Inside the songs of Sacred Love" DVD were Cheryl Tatum, Anita Blakemore, Susie Scott, Heather Hoefnagels and Susan Walsh.

'Inside' DVD hidden 'Easter Egg' Contest
The winner of the signed copy of "Inside the songs of Sacred Love" DVD was "Wren

New York Meet & Greet with Sting
The winner of our Hammerstein Concert sweepstakes contest for a pair of tickets and a meet and greet with Sting before the show was Mike Triunfo.

'Today Show' Concert VIP Tickets
The winners of our VIP tickets to see Sting on the 'Today Show' were Christina Picken, Deborah Gee, Claudia Rojas, Justin Borgham, Larry Schaffer, Mary Moynahan, Peter Ostreicher, Shawn Farrell, Steve Agovino and Tomoko Yamada. Each won a pair of VIP tickets for the Today Show Sting Concert on October 2.

See Sting on the 'Letterman' Show
The winners of the tickets for the recording of the 'Letterman' show featuring Sting were Larry Jackson and Karen Bernardo.

See Sting at 'Festivalbar' in Verona
The winners of our tickets to see Sting at 'Festivalbar' in Verona were Lydia Corato, Giovanni Pollastri and Isabell Brigel.

See Sting on 'Hit Machine' in Paris
The winners of our tickets to see Sting on the French TV show 'Hit Machine' were Marie Catherine Vandura and Nassim Belkaid.

See Sting on 'Top of the Pops'
The winners of our tickets to see Sting on 'Top of the Pops' in London were Andy Finch, Gill Marrion, Warwick Harry, Steve Molyneux, and Paul Carter who each won a pair of tickets.

See Sting on the 'Jonathan Ross Show'
The winners of our tickets for the Jonathan Ross show recording on September 18 which featured Sting were Barry Mingard, Louisa Hewitt, Steve McQueen and Theresa Roberts.

See Sting at London's Mermaid Theatre
The winners of our tickets to see Sting at the Mermaid Theatre in London were Steven Welsh, Luuk Schroijen, Alison Fergie, Luc Goris and Jasmin Haecker. They correctly identified the director of the 'Send Your Love' video as 'Sanna Hamri'.

Sting's Live in Grant Park Sweepstakes
jaxman, nolds, sophiad, sjames68, vehder, stingbaby, nsmaurer, bjschi00, Pulpeux, kjcecil, Wren, jousley1, annime, zeeeter, cheekyjeremy, kjcecil, DianeM, sting-13, Plaster3000, jaygirl, jmanff, DavidF, meeks001, kristirittby

Sting's Autumn in Paris Contest
The winner of these tickets was 'Lorraine'.

'Salt Lake City Olympics' Official Music CDs
Winners of the limited edition CDs of Official Music of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic games (featuring Sting and Yo-yo Ma) were: Francesca Fontana and Mark Whiteman. They were the first names drawn from the hat who answered correctly that Fragile originally appeared on the ...Nothing Like The Sun album. Congratulations to them, and thanks to everyone that entered!

Copies of 'Shapes' signed by Dominic Miller
Winners of our autographed copies of Dominic Miller's new album Shapes were Matías Pirolo, Galina Afanasyeva, L.G Lyne, Jürgen Fischbacher, Heather Woodcock, Hannoy Elodie, Cathy Alauze, Doreen Miller, Linda Johnson, and Pat McCue. They were the first names drawn from the hat who answered correctly that Shape of My Heart was first released in 1993. Congratulations to them, and thanks to everyone that entered!

Police Remasters Back Catalogue CD's
Winners of our Police Remaster CDs competition were Jayne Hawkins (Audio CDs) and Koko Vayedjian (SACDs). They were the first names drawn from the hat who answered correctly that The Police had five number one hits in the UK - Message In A Bottle, Walking On The Moon, Don't Stand So Close To Me, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic and Every Breath You Take. Congratulations to them, and thanks to everyone that entered!

Sting Signature Hard Rock Cafe T-shirts
Winners of our Christmas Lyrics Quiz for the Sting signature Hard Rock Cafe t-shirts were Elodie Hannoy and Emma Strowger. They were the first Fan Club members drawn from the hat who gave the correct answers. Congratulations to them, and thanks to everyone that entered!

Bags of Sting Merchandise
The winners of the Bags of Sting Merchandise which included T-shirt, Baseball cap, DVD etc... are Antoni Carbo, Maria Gandini and Michael Scroggie. They were the first names drawn from the hat who answered correctly that the Brand New Day album was released in September 1999. Congratulations to them, and thanks to everyone that entered!

From 'Tyne to Tweed' CDs
The winners of the From 'Tyne to Tweed' CDs which included Sting & Jimmy Nail performing Water Of Tyne are Gitte Betz, Deb Lazaro and Ginette Asselin. They were the first names drawn from the hat who gave the correct answer of 'Geordie'. Congratulations to them, and thanks to everyone that entered!

Signed 'Slicker Than Your Average' Craig David CDs
The winners of the Signed 'Slicker Than Your Average' Craig David CDs which includes a guest appearance by Sting on Rise and Fall. Winners of our signed copies of Craig David's Slicker Than Your Average album are Jeanette Elderfield, Markus Vlasveld and Beth Geraghty. They were the first names drawn from the hat who gave the correct answer of 7 Days/Seven Days.

Sabera Foundation 'Voices of Hope' CDs
Winners of our advance copies of The Sabera Foundation CD "Voices of Hope" album are Roger Puplett, Isaac Avila, and Denise Devoe. They were the first names drawn from the hat who gave the correct answer of Mercury Falling.

Signed & dedicated Chris Botti 'December' CDs
Winners of our signed and personalised copies of Chris Botti's December album are Christophe Laversanne, Katherine Keener, and John Osborne. They were the first names drawn from the hat.

Tee-Shirt Winners
Thanks to everyone who sent in their suggestions for merchandise ideas. As promised three emails were drawn at random and T-shirts are now winging their way to Brigitte Betz, Nuno Leite and David Cajella. Thanks again everyone!

Chris Botti 'Night Sessions' CDs
Winners of our signed Chris Botti's DVDs are Melissa Newton, Joanie Bernstein and Kathy Wheeler. They were the first names drawn from the hat who correctly answered Brand New Day.

Signed 'New Dawn' CDs
Winners of our signed Dominic Miller/Neil Stacey CDs are Scott Whineray, Catalin Vasilache, Martin Boisvert, Noemí Gilda Giovagnoli, Heather Conley. They were the first names drawn from the hat who answered correctly.

Signed 'Until' Promotional CDs
Winners of our "Until" promotional CD's signed by Sting are Mathias Eikenes, Carole Donnelly, Sandi Zovic, Shellita C. Ceniza, Kate Harper, and Amelia Beatriz Aboy. They were the first names drawn from the hat who answered correctly.

Members Only Presale for Concert in Paris, December 15...

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:53:22 -0400

There will be a fan club exclusive ticket pre-sale for Sting's "A Winter's Night..." concert in Paris, France at the Salle Pleyel on 15 December. This will be one of only two concerts taking place in Europe, on behalf of the new album - the other show is in Baden Baden, Germany on December 17.

The fan club presale will begin on Friday, October 23, at 9am EST (3pm local time in Europe). The sale will be open to Legacy members for the first hour and then opened up to all members (subject to ticket availability) at 10am EST (4pm local time in Europe).

Our ticket allocation is across all price categories and in all sections of the venue including the front stalls and even the front row.

Members will be permitted to buy a maximum of two tickets each.

Sting - A Winter's Night... Salle Pleyel, 15 December 2009: exclusive concert in France...

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:30:02 -0400

On the occasion of the release of his new album on Deutsche Grammophon, "If On A Winter's Night...", the songwriter and singer Sting will give an exceptional concert and perform on stage of Salle Pleyel (Paris), Wednesday December 15th. The program encompasses winter songs - Sting's favourite season - and will be arranged as a musical and enchanting "winter journey" with traditional music of the British Isles as a starting point.

For the purpose of this unique concert in France Sting returns to his roots and revisits his native region of Newcastle. He will be joined by his friend and long time colleague, guitarist Dominic Miller. Additional guests include an ensemble of remarkable musicians (strings, brass, percussion, Northumbrian pipes, melodeon, a metal string Scottish harp and of course vocals (soloist and ensemble).

In collaboration with esteemed producer and arranger, Robert Sadin, Sting and his guest musicians will perform a vibrant collection of songs, inspired by traditional themes of Scotland and the North of England: Christmas songs, lullabies, including "The Snow it Melts the Soonest" (traditional Newcastle ballad), "Soul Cake" (traditional English "begging"-song), "Gabriel's Message" (14th century carol), "Balulalow" (lullaby written by Peter Warlock) and "Now Winter Comes Slowly" (Henry Purcell). Several of STINGs own original compositions - two of which are featured on the album ("Lullaby for an Anxious Child" and "The Hounds of Winter") will be performed, as well as a musical reworking and English translation (by StingG ) of "Der Leiermann (Hurdy Gurdy Man)", part of Schubert's famous winter-song-cycle "Die Winterreise".

Inspired by the rich winter theme - a season which has enthused countless musicians over the centuries - Sting and his guest musicians will present an arc of new songs, conjuring the season of ghosts and spirits, and will drag the public into a reflective musical journey full of mystery, penetrating beauty and poignancy.

Bookings: 01 42 56 13 13
www.sallepleyel.fr
Booking begins on October 26th 2009
Prices: 25-55-75-95-120-145€

''A Winters Night...'' - Exclusive Sting concert in Baden-Baden, Germany...

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:30:01 -0400

On December 17, Sting will perform an exclusive concert in Germany at the FSH Baden-Baden. The programme will feature songs from his new CD, "If on a Winter's Night...," released 23 October 2009 on Deutsche Grammophon. Worldwide, only four concerts, on behalf of the new album, are being planned.

Sting's new album conjures the mood and spirit of the season with a diverse collection of songs, carols and lullabies spanning the centuries. Featuring traditional music of the British Isles as its starting point, Sting and guest musicians interpret stirring, folk-based melodies including "The Snow it Melts the Soonest" (traditional Newcastle ballad), "Soul Cake" (traditional English "begging" song), "Christmas at Sea" (traditional Scottish song) "Gabriel's Message" (14th century carol), "Balulalow" (lullaby by Peter Warlock) and "Now Winter Comes Slowly" (Henry Purcell). Two of Sting's own compositions are also featured: "Lullaby for an Anxious Child" and "The Hounds of Winter," which originally appeared on his previous release Mercury Falling.

"A Winter's Night..." features an ensemble of 35 internationally esteemed musicians, including Sting's long-time guitarist, Dominic Miller.

For Tickets and information: www.festspielhaus.de/ Tel. 07221-3013-101

Globe & Mail interview: Sting's sailing toward something new - Sting's new album, If on a Winter's Night ..., was inspired by the singer's upbringing in Northern England...

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:03:44 -0400

Sting's sailing toward something new - Sting's new album, If on a Winter's Night ..., was inspired by the singer's upbringing in Northern England.

A few weeks ago when walking through Green Park, a genteel oasis in the middle of London, Sting encountered a middle-aged couple on the path. The woman approached him and said, "Do you think we could have a photograph?" Absolutely, the singer said graciously - and then the woman handed him her camera. Clearly, she had no idea who he was, and merely needed someone to take a picture of her with the husband.

Ouch! But perhaps it didn't hurt so much. If you have an ego so legendary that it makes Fort Knox seem like a ramshackle hut, it would take a stronger blow to rattle your timbers. And the woman who relates this story is Sting's PR assistant, who is very fond of him and tells it with a laugh, so it must not be a sore spot.

We're in the production offices of Xingu Films, which belongs to Sting's wife Trudie Styler, located on several floors of a beautiful old mews house. The couple live five minutes away, the assistant says, "just across the park." Also just across the park is Buckingham Palace, though I'm pretty sure this is not the residence she's referring to.

When Sting enters, he looks like a man who's had a brisk walk through the autumn leaves. He's dressed in motley that only a rich hippie could carry off - a brightly coloured cardigan over a shirt open to expose his tanned chest, tuxedo pants tucked into calf-high leather boots. A grizzled beard covers his jaw; it's like finding that Captain Ahab has had a yoga studio built in the ship's hold.

The first thing he does is to suggest I sit in a particular chair, because it is the same shade of blue as my boots. This attention to detail is charming but would probably drive you insane, if, say, you were in a band with him: Later in the interview, he will say, about his time with the Police, "A lot of bands when they start out have a semblance of democracy. Democracy doesn't work in a band. You have to have one guy driving the ship. And, uh ... that's me."

His former bandmate Stewart Copeland has said a few things about the captain, and they're not "Sir, yes sir." But more on that later. First, there's quite a poignant story to tell about a man and his past, about spectres and hauntings and the season that is generally acknowledged to be the end of things. Sting's new record is called If on a Winter's Night ... and it's a collection of songs, both new and traditional, about the coldest, darkest season. But if you're a man who grew up in a northern place, in a home that was cold in all senses, and you're the exact age that your father was when he died ... well, it's going to be about other things, isn't it?

Going home, for example. Sting recently returned to Newcastle, in the north of England, for two weeks - the longest time he's spent there since he left 40 years ago, at the age of 18.

"The city's changed a lot, but the ghosts are still there," he says, after he's settled into a low sofa and wrapped his arms wrapped across his chest. "More than I imagined."

Which ghosts would those be?

"Well, I've lost a lot of people - I've lost my parents, lovers, friends, colleagues. And they all came to pay their respects." He laughs, though it's a before-the-axe-falls kind of laugh. "In a nice way, in a sweet way, but I hadn't quite expected it."

Perhaps it's not surprising that ghosts refuse to rest, considering that he didn't attend either of his parents' funerals (a subject he returns to repeatedly in his 2003 memoir, Broken Music .) Decades worth of ambivalence informs If on a Winter's Night ... . For example, there's the memory of being dragged out of bed before dawn in winter, when he was a little boy called Gordon Sumner, to help his father on his milk rounds.

"Most of my school friends would be tucked up in bed. My feet would be frozen, blue," Sting says. "At the same time I was aware how magical it was, to own the streets before anyone did. This grey, industrial landscape became this enchanted, clean, beautiful fairy tale."

There was another, gift, too, at the heart of a troubled relationship with his father: "My dad and I didn't talk very much, ever, but he allowed me to imagine. He used to call me 'the dreamer.' To him it was an insult, but to me ...," he bursts into laughter. "I was a mystery to him."

There's no bitterness in that famous voice, which is oddly both rumbling and nasal. Why would there be? Living well has provided a potent revenge. His wife's offices are stylish in a deliberately low-key fashion; the note cards on her desk say "the Sumners" (vastly preferable to "the Stings.") Two of his children have followed in his musical footsteps. When he wants to act - which is not very often these days - Trudie the film producer coaxes him on screen, though "she still hasn't paid me for Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels ."

Last February, tucked away from the howling winds in a Tuscan farmhouse, Sting gathered with seven musicians - many of them long-time collaborators, most playing traditional instruments - to record his album about winter, which has a suitably antique, firelight feel (the title is taken from Italo Calvino's novel If on a Winter's Night a Traveler , one of his favourite books). Originally, the record company suggested a Christmas album; sitting on the sofa now, Sting records his reaction to that particular suggestion by pretending to stick a finger down his throat. Perhaps he didn't know that the Christmas record has been given new respectability this year with Bob Dylan's seasonal offering. What he wanted was to explore the conflicting emotions that arise from Christmas, and winter as a whole.

His old friend ambivalence again.

"My Christmases as a child were hardly ecstatic times. They were supposed to be happy, but they never were. There was always a family row. The feeling of having got the present you'd begged your parents for, and then feeling jaundiced by it, bored with it.

"There's something deeper, though, that I tried to capture on this record, a light in the centre of darkness, which is part of the Christian story, but it's also something older. It's less to do with salvation than the cycle of the season."

He rubs his bearded jaw - one of the things he likes about winter is that it demands more stylish clothing than summer, and the season allows him to get all hairy. Speaking of cycles, what about the Police, the band that broke up in the eighties and reunited in 2007 for a hugely successful tour? Would the captain take the bridge again? Afraid not, mateys.

Once again, he turns to mime, crisply knotting a bow in the air. "We tied up loose ends, we closed the circle, and we don't have to do it again," he says. "We made a lot of money, made a lot of people happy and still remained friends."

Well, it seems that Sting is not the only one suffering a bout of ambivalence. In Stewart Copeland's recently released memoir, Strange Things Happen , the Police drummer talks about his old bandmate with alternating fondness and rage. "His obsessive creativity has evolved into a monster," Copeland writes. "He hasn't heard the umpire's whistle in 30 years." And, memorably: "Sometimes the back of his head is better than the front."

So, has Sting read the memoir? He responds with a feline smile.

"Yeah. It's sweet."

Ooh, there's a loaded word. "I think he's been pretty fair about me." Then he sighs, acknowledging 30 years of water roiling under the bridge. "You know, I'm not the easiest person to be in a band with."

© The Globe & Mail by Elizabeth Renzetti

Members Only Presale for Concert in Baden Baden at the Festspielhaus...

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:01:30 -0400

There will be an exclusive fan club ticket pre-sale for Sting's "A Winter's Night..." concert in Baden Baden, Germany at the Festspielhaus on 17 December. This will be one of only two concerts taking place in Europe, on behalf of the new album - another show should soon be confirmed.

The fan club presale will begin on Tuesday, October 20, at 9am EST (3pm local time in Europe). The sale will be open to Legacy members for the first hour and then opened up to all members (subject to ticket availability) at 10am EST (4pm local time in Europe).

Our ticket allocation is across all price categories and in all sections of the venue including the front stalls and even the front row.

Members will be permitted to buy a maximum of two tickets each.

Sunday Times interview: Sting and his tale - He is returning to his home of North Tyneside to face up to his difficult childhood, but will the musician ever find peace?

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 02:19:49 -0400

Sting and his tale - He is returning to his home of North Tyneside to face up to his difficult childhood, but will the musician ever find peace?

We are inside Durham Cathedral. It's like being inside a great Gothic wedding cake, pale and cold. Sting's voice - deeper, sadder, more robust - soars amid the incense and the notes from fiddles, harps and Northumbrian pipes. He has come to the northeast of England to perform songs from his new winter-themed album, because he equates the season with coming home. "It's a time for coming out of the cold for comfort, for reflection, for dealing with ghosts, perhaps even rebirth," he says. "It's a wonderful coming home for me. I don't come home often."

It is interesting that of the many places Sting can call home - a pile in Wiltshire, a palazzo in Tuscany, a mansion in Malibu and something state of the art in New York - he still calls the northeast home. Having grown up in the working-class town of Wallsend, North Tyneside, the oldest of four children of a milkman, he has seldom returned since leaving in the 1970s.

The week before, during a break from rehearsals, we sat in the grounds of Durham Cathedral. "Winter is the season where there's almost a gravitational pull towards your roots," he says. "It's like a homing instinct. You look for somewhere warm and cosy. Winter's an uncomfortable season. People are cold and miserable, but at the same time it's an important one for our psychological make-up. It's a time of reflection, imagination, telling stories. Whether the songs are sacred or secular, they have an idea of magic in them."

Sting likes to talk in metaphors, and sometimes complex ones. You often find that there is more than one hidden line in what he is saying. When we meet, his 58th birthday is one week away. He likes to be prepared. He likes to take risks. Lots of elements of his psychological make-up seem to cancel each other out. Is he embracing the winter of his life? What has happened to Sting, Rock-Star Fabulous? Loud, excessive, served champagne by liveried servants. What happens when you are a rock star and you get old: are you supposed to die, retire, shut up, or dye your hair maroon?

Not that Sting's hair is ever going to be maroon. It's no longer egg-yolk yellow. It's a pale, straw-brown, but it's fullish. The blond made it look more transparent, more receding. There's also a beard. Is that part of his winter look?

"I grew a beard last November when I did an opera in Paris with Elvis Costello. I played Dionysus, the Greek god, and they wanted me to look Greek. I rather liked it, so I kept it around, much to my wife's chagrin," he says stroking it.

Does Trudie dislike it because she has permanent face rash? "Shhh," says Sting, tantric sex master, embarrassed when I mention him kissing his wife, the film producer Trudie Styler, whom he has been with for nearly 30 years. "It's a very soft beard. It's not one of those prickly beards." He invites me to feel. I tell him that it's more like a terrier than a silky Afghan hound. "You know Trudie breeds Irish wolfhounds, so she's used to that kind of affection."

As we talk, and on the CD, I notice that his voice, as well as sounding gravellier, also sounds more Geordie. He looks a bit offended when I mention it. "It's not as if I'm putting it on. This is my accent." So, this is more your true voice, and the voice that's without the northeast influence is the one that has been affected? "Yes," he says, but looks slightly disconcerted. It's as if it's not just the Geordie voice, it's the whole Geordie persona that's come back. The Geordie persona as I have known it - because I was born there too - is someone who is not at ease with oneself, who is a little defensive, and who can express sentiment but not emotion. If the northeast had a season it would be winter, many layers and wrappings, because we would rather cover things up. Is all of that you?

"It's certainly me. I feel natural in that garb. I look forward to putting on my sweaters and my boots. I like reflection. It's useful. You have to deal with the ghosts of your past, and there are plenty of ghosts here for me. A lot of friends who are musicians have passed on. I lost my parents here. So when I flew into the airport the other day it was a very bittersweet return. I'm 58 and I seem to have lived three lifetimes since I left."

He defines those lifetimes as "becoming a rock star, and surviving that, and becoming an older person in the music business and trying to figure out a way of doing that. To return home to your roots is important because it injects into you something real. You see your old friends, what they have done and how they relate to you".

Is that frightening, to see that you have grown apart? "I didn't find it frightening. I found it interesting how much it actually stayed the same. When I sing here next week the front row will be people who know exactly where I came from. My dad delivered their milk. I have no mystique here. I am just Gordon from Wallsend."

One of the musicians in his band is the keyboard player Gerry Richardson, a former flatmate who played with him in Last Exit, the band he was in before the Police. Gerry is still a professional musician and teaches at Newcastle College. Sting, who early on worked as a bus conductor, a construction labourer and a tax officer, qualified as a teacher in 1974. Even though he is a kind and patient man and was probably good at teaching, he hated the stability, the no-risk element, the lack of adrenaline. I ask Gerry if he thinks Sting has changed.

"Not fundamentally at all. I still see Gordon in there, as well as Sting. But we are all different personalities to different people, and he is just the same with me. We've been in touch throughout the years. He gets me out of my box whenever he needs me. We used to play some folk songs in the Last Exit sets, and some of the songs we did as Last Exit got reworked as Police songs. He was prolific then, and I don't think he's changed radically in his music either.

"Sting has always been into songs that were not in 4/4 timing. And he still likes to do things with an odd time signature." Winter is a collection of traditional songs and some of his own reworked, but they all have an unmistakable Stingness; the odd timing is haunting and makes happy notes sound sad, and sad notes happy.

Rehearsals break again, and I walk with Sting in those big, stone, echoey corridors. He feels the resonance of the old souls, the old spirits. He thinks he might have been a monk in another life. And I tell him, well he's certainly made up for it in this one. "I've had my moments, I suppose." He doesn't look like a 58-year-old. When his old woolly jumper is removed, a skimpy T-shirt reveals a hard, flat stomach and beautiful yoga arms. "I feel about 14?, actually, but I have 58-year-old memories. I think I have the spirit of a younger man and hopefully the body. I still work out every day."

Does he think about mortality?

"Well, yes, I'm about to enter the wintry part of life, but I also look forward to another spring." Nostalgic and hopeful. Does yoga maintain that mentality? "Yoga seems to maintain me. It's partly vanity, partly discipline, partly just because I'm used to it. I couldn't enjoy being out of shape. I couldn't do my job for a start. It helps me psychologically. I am so prone to depression, or at least melancholy, and being active helps me create the right endorphins to deal with it."

But isn't melancholy good for songwriting? "It's essential. Happy songs, what are they? I love you and you love me. That's pretty banal. Whereas I love you but you love someone else, that's interesting. That's a three-dimensional problem. That's a song."

He can still write songs with yearning, even though sometimes the people who are missing are in fact his parents who have been dead for 20 years. He feels that he still communicates with them most days, and this collection of songs from the northeast certainly carries their spirit.

"Some of these songs relate directly to my parents, and when I'm singing I have to filter that out otherwise I can't really sing them. This album is full of ghost stories. I don't think that ghosts are necessarily unpleasant, I think you need to deal with them. And one song that we sing, Ghost Story, is about my father specifically. It was a very tough relationship, not an easy one. And at the same time I see him every morning in the mirror. 'Oh, I thought you were dead? Oh... it's me.' " Perhaps that's why he had to grow the beard, to differentiate himself.

His father was a milkman, but used to talk of the time that he was a soldier doing National Service in Germany with the Royal Engineers. He worked all his life, not because he was fulfilled but because work defined his manliness. Does Sting feel fulfilled? Is that restlessness why he feels the need to keep on working?

"A certain amount of my personality was in that DNA, a sort of hunger for something that is never really fed - although I'm certainly more fulfilled than my father was. Like most people of his generation, his talent and his brain were not accommodated in the work that he did."

But Sting has every reason to be fulfilled. He has success, acclaim, money, houses; a happy, healthy marriage he is always saying completes him. But you get the feeling he is never satisfied. "There is always going to be hunger, and that's not a bad thing. I can't imagine life without it."

What do you think you have found by coming back here? "Going back to your roots, realising what gifts you have been given from your culture. Honouring that is important for me at this stage in my life. I am not going to become a traditional folk singer, but there has always been that strain in my music. That's where I am at the moment, it's not really an end result. It's just what I'm doing now. I take risks because I get bored easily. I don't like doing the same thing; even though on paper that would seem the most successful thing to do, my instinct tells me otherwise."

These few weeks have been the longest time Sting has been in the northeast since he left. "My brother and sister still live here. My brother delivers the milk like my dad did, and my sister runs Newcastle airport."

Of all of his many homes, which does he feel the most connected to? "I have lived in Italy largely for the last decade, but I am travelling all the time. It's hard to say, but next year we are heading to New York for a couple of years because our youngest son, Giacomo [13], is going to school there." Their other children are Coco, 19, a singer and model, Jake, 24, a film student and Bridget Michael, 25, a film-maker.

Is he a good parent? Sting moves away slightly, his voice becoming distant. "It's not easy. I am travelling all the time and I don't have a normal parent-child relationship. But my kids have had advantages. They have seen the world and have a sophisticated sense of the geopolitics of the globe, and they go to the finest schools. At the same time they complain, and I say, somehow you chose me as your parent, so figure that out - which is better than being a victim. And I actually believe we choose our parents. That's what makes us."

I ask him to explain this. Does he mean that when we are being formed as a soul we magically decide which foetus to inhabit? "Yes, you choose your parents because they are what you need. I am speaking in metaphors. I think it is important never to think of yourself as a victim of your parents. Your parents were there for a reason and they created who you are. You have a choice. You have to think that."

Are his children like him? "If you have got me and Trudie as parents you are going to be very driven, very ambitious and very disciplined, and also a lot of fun." He doesn't say how much of Frances Tomelty, his first wife, is in Joe, 32, now in the band Fiction Plane, who opened for the Police, and Fuschia, 27. You feel a disconnect there, although he once talked of his guilt for not being present when Joe was born and how that sowed the seeds for the end of that marriage. Its failure is something he has never got over.

"I don't think I'm a natural parent. I don't have those skills I see other people demonstrate as a parent. For me it's not a terribly natural thing."

Is that because you were not parented, you were unnurtured? "I was. I was unnurtured. It is not natural for me to go and read a story at night, but I thought I'd better do it all the same."

You were never read a story? "No." Were you hugged? "No. My parents were just kids. My parents certainly loved me. I never had any doubt about that, but they just didn't express it very well. Music became my saviour, my best friend. Music is an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

I would sit playing scales for hours on end, obsessively. It channelled my energy, and it still does. I don't know where I'd be without music." It is as if music is the mother he has to nurture and the father he has to be disciplined by. It is striking that when we asked for photographs of him with his parents, or for early snaps of either of them by themselves, he couldn't find any.

We are now sitting under a shady tree having lunch. He is having a beanburger, cooked by the caterers he uses on every tour. Did they do the Police tour? He shakes his head, "Nope." Did you have separate caterers on that tour? "Yes, and that's the last question I'm going to answer about that." I had no idea that the Police reunion could be a source of potential indigestion.

Prior to their world tour in 2007-8, the Police played their last gig in 1983. They didn't know it was their last gig at the time, although they certainly knew things weren't going well. Fights about Sting's songwriting supremacy, and a tabloid headline that said Stewart Copeland had punched Sting and cracked a rib meant the rows were public knowledge. But Sting never told the band it was over; he just ran away - something that used to be a trait of his and which, in his later years, he is addressing. He is running back. He said at the time the Police reformed: "You can abandon something, you can never finish it. Relationships are never finished."

At their peak, the Police were one of the most successful rock bands of all time. For Sting it was a painful seven years. "Everything you thought would make you happy was given to you - and then it did not make you happy. It's a wonderful lesson, to learn where real happiness comes from. I escaped that band..." And one day his instincts told him he had to go back to it.

The band itself spun him into a different orbit, away from everything he knew. "That was one of the sadnesses of my life, that I never made the circle back." Now he is completing that circle. That's why his songs are "a composite of ghosts in my possession. My dad is just one of those".

When his parents died, both in 1987 of cancer, he didn't go to their funerals, stating it was to avoid the media hype. Does he think he should have gone? "Yes, I do regret that. I didn't mourn in the proper way and I was emotionally paralysed. I couldn't cry and it was a feeling of relief and I was guilty about that. So I spent a long protracted period of mourning in much more extravagant ways, mostly through music."

You do get the impression he thinks about death. "We are all faced with the dichotomy of living in the present and looking towards the inevitable, which is death. And how do you deal with that?" A pause. "None of us know. We are struggling to find out. My way is through songs and through my children as opposed to my parents. They are dealing with me getting older."

I remind him that when we met in Los Angeles a couple of years ago when the Police were reforming he said it was all about tying up loose ends. In what other ways is he doing that? And what is he still running away from? "With the Police I think we did tie it up. And now it's done."

You ran away from your first marriage and the guilt haunted you, and your songs. Is that one of your patterns that you can't escape? "I am settled now. I am with a good woman who loves me and I love her. That's what's kept me sane. I am not running away from anything at the moment."

He looks at me. "You are challenging," he says at last. He might have wanted to say, can we stop this interview because it's uncomfortable. But in a funny way Sting enjoys discomfort. He enjoys things that aren't easy. He says he still talks to his Police bandmates, but only on a social level. Doing it again would be "dreadful and gratuitous, and it wouldn't work".

He still travels excessively, has a huge carbon footprint, but has planted 100,000 trees. Deforestation has been his campaign for 20 years. He is often mocked and criticised for being self-indulgent and worthy. Does he mind? "It's part and parcel of being in this position. People are going to have a go at you. Either that or they ignore you." Is it better to be attacked than ignored? "Yes... Because I also get positive attention and feel nurtured by it."

As we walk back through the stone corridors to another rehearsal, dusk is falling and bats are flying about. Sting winds me up saying they like my hair. He is very teenage. He says: "My fifties have been my favourite decade. I've had more fun than any other. There's no reason why my sixties won't be the same. I'm fit, I'm healthy and as long as I have that I'll be happy. Both my parents died before they were 60 of cancer."

Do you ever think about that? "Yes. It puts you in the front line. I know that. There are no guarantees. I just try to be as happy as I can be. None of us are going to get out of this alive."

His parents died within a year of each other. Would he want to die before Trudie? "Yes and no. I don't know. I think about it because there are issues that we all have to deal with."

Are you the one in the relationship who needs to be loved most, or love most? "I think it adjusts throughout the relationship. Sometimes you love more and sometimes you are loved more. How do I want it to end up? I want to end up with that woman still loving me. That's my ambition."

Then we return to the parents. "I wish I could have given my parents more of that happiness before they died, but they were proud of what I had done. Whether they could articulate that was another matter." The irony that his own life is based on self-expression is not lost on him.

"My mother was a romantic. I don't think her hunger for romance was ever satisfied, and that was her tragedy. She needed a much wilder life to be who she was." Perhaps that's why Sting lived it for her.

"I think all the women in my life have satisfied the various archetypes of my mother: the wife, the lover, the mistress, the unattainable female mystery. She encompassed a lot of it. I don't think you will ever get to the bottom of a woman. I don't think men are wired to understand, and I think that's fantastic - a constant mystery. I think I know what women want now though."

In what way? "I think women want to be asked what they want. One shouldn't just assume." Do you mean what shall we eat, what shall we do tonight? "Everything." Do you want to have sex now? "All those things." You actually ask do you want to have sex? "Of course. Do you think a man should just club you and drag you down into the cave?" No, but I think it's something you should already know. "Well, you need to read the signals, but they need to be asked. It's a question of manners."

I think that metaphor works better if you are talking about lunch. "Discourse is important as well as intercourse. Certainly there is an engine in my personality, the way I live my life is driven by that female obsession. I find them interesting to look at and to listen to. It's not just about sex. Certain parts of human psychology mean that we are all made up of male and female, and I have a pretty well-developed sense of the female in me."

His songs are emotional, romantic, female. His body is strong, fit, masculine, and a lot of the way he operates is extremely macho. We are back to those two extremes. "Yes, okay. I admit it."

What will he do after this? "There's a small tour. Various gigs. And I still keep my rock band. I'll think about a new record."

Isn't Mr Rock-Star Fabulous still in there?

"It doesn't take that much to get him out of the box. He's been quiet lately, but he's ready, like a jack-in-the-box." Sting, along with Bono and Elton John, was in Bruno, the Sacha Baron Cohen movie. They all looked ridiculous: poser rock stars, high on narcissism. Was it easy to send yourself up? "Easy. It was fun. I wouldn't mind acting again. I did this thing with Trudie where we play Robert and Clara Schumann. They had a tragic love affair and then he went mad." Is that really you and Trudie? He laughs. "We did this at the Royal Opera House. We read letters to each other, and then music played. It's sweet. Not a dry eye in the house."

Do you cry easily? "Music makes me cry. I watched Cinema Paradiso last week and I cried like a bairn. I'm quite ashamed." We talk about how emotions can get displaced. It's easier to cry at music or movies. "I have experienced that. When my parents were dying I didn't cry, but if I'd watched some sad movie I would have."

I return to Durham the following week for the performance proper. It is emotional and uplifting. Afterwards he tells me he has been visiting some landmarks of his past. "Last week we went to the Quayside market. My dad used to take us there on Sunday mornings after church. It was a big treat to go there, buy something small and see the ships docked. And I was there last Sunday and bought a secondhand book, The History of Newcastle United."

What's his favourite landmark? "Tynemouth Priory." It's just ruins looking over the beach.

"I lost my virginity there." Was that because it was romantic or because you were living at home and that was the only place you could go? "Of course. It wasn't a generation where you could shag in your own house. But it can be romantic there. It's a place famous for lovers' trysts."

So many things have changed. The house he grew up in doesn't exist any more, but it strikes me that much about Sting has stayed the same. Emotionally complicated. A shy man who takes masochistic pleasure in revealing himself, with a great Newcastle sense of humour. His voice is still recognisably his. "And so it should be. Success in music is to have a recognisable signature. If my voice comes on the radio you know it's me and will become more so. That's something I look forward to."

What else are you looking forward to? "The ride. The curiosity of what happens next. When I left teaching they said, 'If you leave now you will lose your pension,' and I could see myself at 58 as a deputy head with a pension in the offing, and that's why I left. I didn't want to see the future. I wanted to spin the wheel and I'm glad to have spun the wheel a few times. I would like to settle down at some point... It doesn't mean I will, though." There's a laugh in his eyes that tells me he is all for spinning the wheel.

© The Sunday Times by Chrissy Iley

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Sting talks about ''If On A Winter's Night...''

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:30:30 -0400

Listen to 'Cold Song' from 'If On A Winter's Night...'
Music by Henry Purcell, Lyrics by John Dryden, Arranged by Sting

A WINTER GATHERING

It is February 2009, a cold, relentless wind rattles doors and windows as it wraps itself round the old house that sits atop a Tuscan hillside. Surrounded by cypress trees standing against the wintry onslaught, the house has been my home and retreat for the last decade. In the summer, its elevation gives us some respite from the sizzling temperatures in nearby Florence, but in the winter we experience the implacable wind that descends from the North down the peninsula and across the exposed Tuscan hills.

Seven musicians, wrapped in scarves and coats, instruments resting on their knees, sit huddled around the kitchen fireplace, nursing hot mugs of tea, attempting to get some warmth into their fingers. Nearest to me is Kathryn Tickell, a traditional musician from my hometown Newcastle. Her Northumbrian Pipes, as well as her fiddle playing, have graced four of my albums since the early nineties. Next to her sits Julian Sutton, another traditional musician from Newcastle, who says very little, preferring instead to express his eloquence via the buttons of his beloved Melodeon. To my right is longterm colleague and guitarist Dominic Miller, my right and left hand for almost two decades. His presence, as well as his patience with my gadfly meanderings, is as comforting as his hands are steady. Mary Macmaster, Celtic harpist from Scotland, sits smiling in the glow of the firelight, patiently tuning the steel strings of her instrument between sips of tea.

I met cellist Vincent Segal last year while performing in Steve Nieve's opera 'Welcome to the Voice' at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris Vincent plays everything from plucked bossa nova rhythms to sonorous Bach preludes. The Chatelet is also where I met Ibrahim Maalouf, an exceptional Lebanese trumpet player. He is another quiet soul who sits absently staring at my dog Compass, lying by the corner of the fireplace: Compass returns his gaze with a look that is both watchful and insouciant. Finally there is violinist Daniel Hope, more at home perhaps in the great concert halls of the world than in a farmhouse kitchen, but nonetheless excited to be among this motley of musicians - and able to improvise in the informal way that most of us outside the classical world approach musical arrangements.

Each of us will explore the chosen pieces on his or her own, until the separate strands are woven together - a process which, I suppose, is my job: a task I'm happy to share on this occasion with Bob Sadin, New York producer, orchestral arranger and conductor. Bob stands with his back to the room, facing the window and observing the inclement weather, his flat cap clamped permanently onto the back of his head. "Shall we begin?" he says, still with his back to us. "We seem to have been gifted the appropriate weather." Ah yes! For we are gathered here to celebrate and explore the music of Winter, the season of frosts and long dark nights.

WINTERS PAST

Bob hands out copies of 'The Cold Song' by Henry Purcell from the semi-opera King Arthur, with lyrics by John Dryden. The Cold Genius is summoned back from the dead, we start to play, and somewhere in the house a door slams.

The cold months of the northern hemisphere have been granted to us by the fortunate tilt of the Earth on its axis, and they exercise a powerful influence on our collective psychology. They are part of the myth of ourselves we carry inside our heads, created as much in the shared landscape of the imagination as in the concrete reality of our surroundings.

Like all earthly creatures we seem pre-wired to recognize and respond to the polar archetypes of light and dark, of heat and cold as they are encoded in the rhythm of the days and nights and the perpetual cycle of the seasons.

Today is exceptionally cold but the Winters of my childhood seemed to be far longer and far colder than they are now. Winter in this 21st century seems scarcely to begin before it is over, snowfall is rare, and when it does occur, it is short-lived.

Global warming, if that is what is reducing our annual cold season, is probably taking its toll on the human psyche just as it seems to be altering the seasonal rhythms of the planet itself Something important is in the process of being taken from us, for despite the frequent foulness of the weather, and the hardship of those who have to work outside, there is something of the Winter that is primal, mysterious and utterly irreplaceable, something both bleak and profoundly beautiful, something essential to this myth of ourselves, to the story of our humanity, as if we somehow need the darkness of the winter months to replenish our inner spirits as much as we need the light, energy and warmth of the Summer.

I remember well those long hours of darkness from November to March. We would walk to school in the dark, and find our way home in that same darkness. When we rose, there would be frost on the inside of windows, where you could scratch a face with your fingernail. We would get dressed for school under the sheets, and then, bundled up under layers of woollen clothes, we would walk ghostly streets in freezing fogs, ice treacherously underfoot, and we'd gaze in wonder at icicles hanging from railway bridges.

I remember the soft snowfall of so many dark winter mornings with my Dad on his milk round. We would often be the first to disturb it, as we drove silently through the empty streets, and the first to leave our footprints on pavements and garden paths, with the clank of the milk bottles in our hands muffled by the deadening and soundless snow. In whatever was left of the day, the sun was scarcely glimpsed, if at all: just a cold yellow disc rising above the naked treetops, or the whitened roofs of the town.

Sometimes on a winter's night I would contrive to be alone in the downstairs room of our draughty Victorian house. We kept a coal fire there, our only source of heat turning off the light, and sitting on the edge of the fender, I'd be drawn to the glowing coals and the flickering of the firelight, the room full of darting shadows. There I was free to imagine spirits and hauntings, for Winter, more than any other, was the season of the imagination, of transformed magical landscapes and the eerie silences of the snow.

Later that evening in Tuscany, the wind still howling outside, I will ask Kathryn if she knows any songs from Newcastle that would suit this project. She tells me that when she was a small child her Dad used to sing her a song called 'The Snow It Melts the Soonest'. I don't know it, but she and Julian will patiently teach it to me. The song, like the moors of Northumberland in the winter, has a characteristic bleakness and is starkly beautiful. As I sing it, I feel a rare twinge of homesickness.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY

Since the first millennium the festival of Christmas has become the central and defining event of the Winter season; the story of Christ's birth contains many magical elements, prefigured by ancient prophecy: the god king born among animals in a stable, the mysterious star in the East, the Three Wise Men, King Herod and the Slaughter of the Innocents, Mary and Joseph and the conundrum of the Virgin Birth. I appreciate the beauty of these stories and how they have inspired musicians and poets for many centuries. It was my desire to treat these themes with reverence and respect, and despite my personal agnosticism, the sacred symbolism of the church's art still exerts a powerful influence over me.

In the medieval lexicon the rose was a symbol of flawless perfection and became associated with both Christ and his mother Mary. Two songs in this collection have this as a central metaphor, both based on a verse from Isaiah ("And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of its roots"): 'Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming', a 15th-century German carol, harmonized by Praetorius a century later, and 'There Is No Rose of Such Virtue', an English carol from the same period. While the metaphor of the rose is clearly medieval, it appears to carry a faint echo of the nature spirits of the pre-Christian era. While this would undoubtedly have been an unconscious link, the syncretic nature of symbolism is both subtle and persistent.

In selecting the songs here, I was drawn to many of the beautiful lullabies horn both secular and religious traditions - indeed, all of the songs on the album are lullabies of a kind - and became intrigued by their dual nature, for lullabies seem to be designed not only to soothe but also to unsettle the listener. Peter Warlock composed his beautiful setting of the Scottish hymn 'Balulalow', a lullaby that is lyrically at the more comforting end of the spectrum; but the E flat pedal against the modal voicing of the arrangement is not entirely free of dark portents. Similarly, 'Lullaby for an Anxious Child', one of my own compositions with Dominic Miller, contains forebodings of a dark world beyond the cradle.

The imagery of 'Gabriel's Message', originally a Basque carol, is both beautiful and terrifying. Mary, who is - as usual - described as meek and gentle, is confronted by the vision of an awesome being with eyes of flame and wings of drifted snow. [...] The Mary and Joseph of the 'Cherry Tree Carol' are attractively human in the way they respond to their unusual predicament. On their flight into Egypt, Mary, now with child, asks her husband to gather cherries for her. With some anger, Joseph replies that the father of the baby should fetch her cherries, and not he. Such an honest emotional response is refreshing.

Implicit in the story of the birth of Christ is the knowledge of his death and his subsequent Resurrection. This is what connects it to the secular songs about the cycle of the seasons. We are reminded that there is light and life at the centre of the darkness that is Winter - or conversely that, no matter how comfortable we feel in the cradle, there is darkness and danger all around us.

ANCIENT ECHOES

The magical quality of the Christian story is not diminished by the knowledge that much of the myth of Christmas seems to have been superimposed upon an ancient matrix. If anything, those ancient echoes of the pagan solstice still reverberate in the stories of spirits and ghosts for which the season is famous.

Our ancestors celebrated the paradox of light at the heart of the darkness, and the consequent miracle of rebirth and the regeneration of the seasons. Ancient cultures not only observed these phenomena, but also took an active and imaginative role in their propagation. The winter solstice needed to be celebrated ritually so that a new cycle of the seasons could begin, crops could be sown, animals husbanded and life itself could proceed. It is this imaginative contract with nature that was at the heart of the winter rituals and at the heart of ancient myth.

For me it was important to draw parallels between the Christian story and the older traditions of the winter solstice. These myths and stories are our common cultural heritage, and as such need to be kept alive through reinterpretation within the context of contemporary thinking, even if that thinking is essentially agnostic. However, the mystery at the heart of the cosmos, and indeed of life itself, remains intact - perhaps insoluble to beings at our level of consciousness. In the meantime, all of us need our myths to live by.

Like many people, I have an ambivalent attitude towards the celebration of Christmas. For many, it is a period of intense loneliness and alienation. I specifically avoided the jolly, almost triumphalist, strain in many of the Christian carols. I make a musical reference to 'God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen' only as a dramatic counterpoint to the words in 'Soul Cake', for example. This was a song sung at Halloween by children who go from door to door asking for pennies and "soul cakes" (the latter not originally intended for the living). I was also keen to avoid the domestic cosiness of many of the secular songs, recognizing that, for many, Winter is a time of darkness and introspection.

Likewise, I was attracted to Robert Louis Stevenson's poem 'Christmas at Sea' because it describes so well the powerful gravitational pull of home that Christmas exerts on the traveller. When Mary Macmaster starred to sing the Gaelic song 'Thograinn Thograinn,' a women's working-song from the Isle of Skye, I thought the melody would make a perfect counterpoint for the longing of Stevenson's sailor, who finds himself on a foundering ship below the cliffside town where he was born, on this "of all days in the year... Blessed Christmas morn".

For those with even darker tastes 'The Burning Babe', a poem by the 16th-century English Jesuit martyr Robert Southwell, offers a macabre vision encountered on a winter's night, of the infant Jesus suspended in the darkness and burning in agony for the sins of man. The musical setting is the work of traditional singer and fiddler Chris Woods.

It would have seemed strange not to make reference at least to Schubert's great song cycle Winterreise, his masterly meditation on the season, and one of the inspirations for the present collection. I've taken some liberties with the English translation of 'Der Leiermann' in suggesting that the snarling dogs mentioned there may perhaps take a more active role in the demise of the hurdygurdy man. The observer in the song not only maintains a sense of curiosity and empathy towards the subject but perhaps envisions the spectre of his own future.

Finally comes 'You Only Cross My Mind in Winter', inspired by the Sarabande from J. S. Bach's Sixth Cello Suite; not surprisingly, it's a ghost story. My other contribution to the album is also a ghost story of a kind, 'The Hounds of Winter'.

Walking amid the snows of Winter, or sitting entranced in a darkened room gazing at the firelight, usually evokes in me a mood of reflection, a mood that can be at times philosophical, at others wildly irrational; I find myself haunted by memories. For Winter is the season of ghosts; and ghosts, if they can be said to reside anywhere, reside here in this season of frosts and in these long hours of darkness. We must treat with them calmly and civilly, before the snows melt, and the cycle of the seasons begins once more.

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