Saechsische Zeitung - September 1, 2003


Albums

Songs

Concerts

Press

by Verena Mann

translation by Astrid Nolde-Gallasch


Chris makes goosebumps

2000 visitors enthusiastically celebrate Mister Music Chris de Burgh on the 
Hutberg

Friday night on the Kamenzer Hutbergbühne had something familiar. The guests 
who made their way up the mountain to the concert with Chris de Burgh were 
mostly middle aged. When you looked a little closer, you saw remarkably 
many women and a lot of umbrellas among the concert visitors. And that was 
no coincidence. After all there was a thick black rain cloud above the 
Kamenzer mountain and the classic rock ballads of the star guest are still 
true catchy records with the ladies. But the opening act of this concert 
evening didn't have to hide either. "California Dreaming" is at home in 
Halle/Saale. And what maybe nobody had really expected, the five gentlemen 
around female singer Petra conjured up a great fireworks of hits of the 
last four decades on the Hutbergbühne. Memories of the Hollys and the 
Monkeys were shook up. To the joy of the guests even Roy Orbison's world 
hit "Pretty Woman" was on the setlist of the band, that perked up the 
expecting mood of the star guest of the night for about half an hour.

Since over 20 years on the stages of the world

Meanwhile a cool wind drove away the thick clouds above the kettle of the 
open air venue, and after the rebuilding-break the visitors clapped for 
their Mister Music - Chris de Burgh. The dark haired man with the thick 
eyebrows who is not very tall, will become 55 years old this year. He was 
born on October 15, 1948 in the Argentinian Vernando Tuerto by the civil 
name of Christopher John Davison. Already as a child he saw half of the 
world, lived with his parents in Malta, Nigeria and Zaire. When Chris was 
twelve, the family bought the castle Tomhaggard of the 12th century in 
Ireland. Also, that's what the biography of the artist says, the family 
tree traces back towards the legendary king Richard the Lionheart. Chris de 
Burgh recorded his first record in 1975 "Far Beyond These Castle Walls". 
After 10 years of musical experiments he became famous in the 80s with "The 
Ferry Man" (1982) and "High On Emotion" (1984). 1986 he became a Music 
Award for his "Lady In Red". Eversince he celebrates great successes as a 
world star.

Even when the circles of the open air stage weren't filled as close 
together as some might have expected, the true fans didn't care. When it 
was just a small group of about 20 to 30 mostly female admirers during the 
opening act who filled the room right in front of the stage, right from the 
first song the big, half circle pedestal threaded to burst. Very well 
"heated up" by "California Dreaming" who did a great job, it wasn't 
difficult for him to cast a spell over the audience immediately with the 
first title. What came then, was worth all the trouble. The artist sang and 
played for a good 90 minutes one hit after another, supported by his 
fabulous acting band. Soon the first swinging flames of lighters, sparklers 
or the less dangerous light sticks were seen among the guests. It didn't 
take half an hour and the master had literally sung himself warm. He took 
off the black leather jacket of his ever simple stage outfit and rocked on 
in a white shirt that beamed in the spotlight.

The ballads to guitar most beautiful

Chris didn't have much trouble with his audience. Willingly it followed him 
from title to title. Who wonders that there had been little presents for 
the favourite star that were handed up the stage already in the first half 
of the concert. "For me the part when Chris was alone on stage without band 
just with his guitar, that was the most beautiful moment of the evening. He 
really has a voice that makes goosebumps", says Gabriele Wedel with beaming 
eyes who came from Dresden to the Kamenzer Hutberg. Antje and Frank Fiedler 
from Putzkau near Bischofswerda were of the same opinion: "That really was 
worth it."

Despite of the applause, the appreciating whistles, and the calls for 
encores, the sympathical Mister Music stayed hard at the end. After two 
great encores, he sent his audience home with a charming reference to the 
watch on his wrist.




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