Schwetzinger Zeitung - July 25, 2005


Albums

Songs

Concerts

Press

by Andreas Lin

translation by Astrid Nolde-Gallasch


Chris de Burgh puts the cherry on top of the concert series

The Irish singer and songwriter enthuses his 3300 fans in "Swetzingen" / 
a sequel next year is possible

The felicitous guest performance of Chris de Burgh on Saturday night was 
the icing on the cake of a concert series that attracted thousands of 
viewers on two weekends with Rodger Hodgson, Al Jarreau, the opera Carmen 
and finally Chris de Burgh and - maybe with the exception of Carmen - 
enthused everybody. The place of the event, the so-called flower meadow 
(without flowers), known to many as the former football stadium of the SV 
98 next to the castle market-garden is well proven.

"This is the future, this is a great atmosphere", in the afternoon the 
mayor's referent Wolfgang Leberecht proved to be a fan of this place, 
which may be called in new German as "location". A sequel to these 
concerts seems to be possible, also from the point of the castle 
administration - even if the opera performances with Carmen may have 
found an ending. Nothing is planned yet, but the name Udo Jrgens has 
been talked of already on Saturday night.

At this time Chris de Burgh had just finished his sound check - in front 
of just a hand full of listeners, of course without the technicians and 
helpers of the organizor. Two middle-aged ladies were even shedding some 
tears when the Irish singer and songwriter tried the sound of his first 
ballads - the visitors of the Schlossgaten could witness a short free 
live concert.

Some hours later 3300 visitors - the concert had been sold out for weeks 
- enjoyed the more than two and a half hours of Chris de Burgh's solo 
performance. You could visibly tell that he really had fun at his concert 
in "Swetzingberg" (later corrected into "Swetzingen"). 

Albeit Chris de Burgh has been for the first time in Schwetzingen, but 
not in the region. For example he had a concert in 1986 in the 
Rhein-Neckar-Halle in Eppelheim - the Schwetzinger Andreas Moosbrugger 
had his ticket with him and had it signed by the surprised singer ("Oh, 
that is a long time ago"). The Irishman also knows Hockenheim, because he 
had been guest of Jordan or McLaren during the formula one grand prix 
several times. That's why he was interested in the time training that he 
had missed due to his soundcheck: "Who is in front, what is the starting 
order?", he wanted to know and was especially happy about the good place 
of Jenson Button. He wouldn't put it past Kimi Räikkönen to win: "I think 
he will win." Formula one was also the reason that de Burgh didn't spend 
the night in "Swetzingen", but at the place of yesterday's performance in 
Mainz. "There was just no room left here.", he tells. A pity, he might 
have performed even longer.




Questions or comments?

File last modified on August 26, 2006