The sleeping bus driver at the Sting concert...
"It's all about the pitch," they say in football. This also applies to the Jazz Open, with the inner courtyard of the New Palace serving as the main stage. But there's also a lot going on around it. Side notes.
Onlookers – there are at least as many of them on the Palace Square on Sunday evening as paying guests. The sophisticated sound system and a viewing window facing the video screen make it possible. Hundreds of people peer from the Old Palace toward the stage to catch a glimpse of Sting, but above all to listen to his hits.
"Every breath you take" – The atmosphere is excellent. Peace and joy are plentiful in the city. Just not pancakes. Instead, there's much else. People have brought picnic blankets, spread out on the lawn, and are having a good time.
"King of Pain!" – Sting is also a topic of conversation at the Königsbau. At Martha's, the deck chairs are in demand. A couple has snagged some – in joyful anticipation of the concert. Unfortunately, Sting's voice can't keep up with the chattering crowd on the left and right. Frustrated, the two quickly vacate their seats. "You can't hear anything here anyway," they tell their successors.
"Walking on the Moon" – Two worlds collide: the young couple from Ukraine returning from the anti-war demonstration and the relaxed life on the Schlossplatz. Wrapped in the Ukrainian colours, the two young people stand somewhat forlornly in front of the Duke Christoph monument, gazing towards the vibrant life. The connection between them and the Jazz Open is the huge blue and yellow banner above the stands bearing the inscription "Peace."
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" – A completely different kind of music is playing in front of the art museum. A group of young men of Arab descent plug their cell phones into a large speaker and then dance together. The speaker is part of an installation by artist Tobias Rehberger, who is currently exhibiting at the Kunstmuseum. The sounds are translated into light signals. The glass facade shimmers to the rhythm of oriental music.
"So lonely" – Shortly before the finale, a bus driver from Heidelberg makes his big entrance. His bus is parked in front of the Old Palace. He has rolled down the window. As the music blares from the courtyard, he leans out the window and asks passers by to keep their voices down: "I'd like to sleep."
"Englishman in New York" – As Sting ends his performance after an hour and a half, a young man steps in front of the Old Palace and plays Sting songs on his acoustic guitar. People stop, though not that many. His guitar case slowly fills with coins.
"Wrapped Around Your Finger" – At Eckensee, after the concert, a group of fans waits for Sting to leave the New Palace. The groupies look different – especially a bit younger. When he finally arrives, his instrument strapped to his back, everyone waves. "A great concert!" someone calls out. Sting waves back and gets on the waiting bus. That was the Englishman in Stuttgart.
(c) Stuttgarter Zeitung by Jan Sellner
