The magic of Sting closes 'Collisioni' in Barolo - Over 100,000 spectators in 4 days on the UNESCO hills...

The eclecticism of Sting, one of the few artists in the world capable of blending rock, pop, and jazz in a single concert, concluded the Collisioni Festival in Barolo before 10,000 people. The singer-songwriter - a multi-instrumentalist with a passion for the bass - showed off his entire 40-year career, from his early albums with the Police to his latest solo album, 'The Last Ship,' two years ago.

For the 'agrirock' festival, which this year was subtitled 'Messages in a Bottle,' named after a song written by Sting, it was a resounding finale, drawing 110,000 spectators to the 50 meetings and 70 concerts in the performance area set up in Piazza Rossa, among the Langhe vineyards, which are celebrating their first anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sting himself certainly enjoys these landscapes, approaching 64 years old, though his voice remains the same as ever. He loves the Italian countryside so much that a couple of decades ago, together with his wife, he opened a farm and winery in Tuscany, which he occasionally uses as a recording studio. Tonight, the former Police member was practically playing at home, so much so that he addressed the crowd several times in Italian. And the audience, arriving in the square in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, responded in the best possible way. Among the audience were many long-time fans, but there were also plenty of younger ones, those who had only recently discovered the maestro's music.

In a setlist peppered with great hits, Sting alternated between songs from his early days with the Police, including "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," "So Lonely," and his solo releases, such as "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You," which opened the concert, and "Englishman in New York." All revisited with a funky twist.

There couldn't have been a better conclusion to a festival that brought Italian artists and international stars to the Barolo stage: from Vinicio Capossela to Mark Knopfler, including Fedez and J-Ax. All were applauded enthusiastically by the enthusiastic audience, who once again appreciated this year's formula that combines great music with literature, bringing together culture and territory in the magnificent landscape of the Piedmontese Langhe.

(c) ANSA by Davide Petrizzelli