Sting, finally back on stage...

The singer, in top form, launched his new world tour Thursday night at the Zénith in Rouen. We were there.

The term "sold out" has never been so apt. It would be impossible to squeeze even one more soul into this seemingly overflowing room. At 8:50 p.m., Sting arrived with four musicians and a handful of backup singers to thunderous applause. Those who have seen him on stage before, as well as those who know his age, would have had every reason to expect him to sit on a high stool, guitar pressed against his chest, microphone in front of him. But at 70, Sting is still full of surprises.

Like the young ephebes who make groupies scream, he chose a dark tank top for his stage attire, revealing his sculpted body, an electric guitar hanging from his neck, and a headset microphone to give himself as much freedom of movement as possible. And he won't hold back: with long strides and short jumps, he will navigate all evening from one side of the stage to the other, sometimes going towards the crowd, sometimes towards those who accompany him.

Generous, Sting isn't one to shy away from the classics his audiences love. On his previous tours, he never hesitated to open with "Roxanne." That evening, after opening with a fitting "Russians," he delivered "Message in a Bottle" to the Rouen crowd. "Thank you very much!" he shouted in French. He made it a point to ensure that each of his performances was in the language of Molière.

After "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free," he began "Englishman in New York" as the screen behind him transformed into the Big Apple skyline. The very American set design focused primarily on the lighting effects. He then sang the Police song "Every Little Thing She Does in Magic," followed by "If It's Love," the title track from his latest album, "The Bridge." Whether the songs were being played for the third or 500th time, the artist, visibly delighted to be back on stage, never lost his smile from the concert.

"I'm going to play you a new song. It's called 'For Her Love.'" The atmosphere softens and stays that way for "Loving You" before a dynamic return to "The Book of Numbers," which he seems to recite like a poem. The audience then gets excited for "Rushing Water," the latest single from his recent album. An army of cell phones are raised, and a few applause can be heard at the opening notes of "Fields of Gold."

The audience, few of whom are young, is attentive, dancing to a minimum, and giving a lot to the person they've come to applaud. Even if, on several occasions, he doesn't hesitate to give the spotlight to his harmonica player for "Brand New Day," then to one of his backing singers for an R&B version of "Shape of My Heart."

The show is designed as a journey. The musical flight departed from New York, crossed several states in the United States, and then "Wrapped around your fingers", "Walking on the moon" revisited version "Get up stand up" then "So lonely" version "Get up stand up" by Bob Marley brought the spectators to Jamaica. Before a final stopover in the Orient thanks to "Desert Rose", this song from 1999 where he invited Cheb Mami.

After a high-flying "Every Breath You Take," Sting bowed to signify the end of the first act but didn't bother to fake the stage exit. He took a sip and went straight into "Roxanne," which he stretched out as if he were performing in a Manhattan jazz club, slipping in a sample of Ella Ftizgerald's "It Don't Mean a Thing." He ended with a gentle and emotional "Fragile" before taking a long bow to the delighted crowd.

For his return to tour, Sting was delighted to be back with the French audience, even more so to be on stage, and delivered a show of rare generosity. He returns to the provinces next week.

(c) Paris Match by Clémence Duranton