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by Michael Jacobs A flawless troubadour enchants all hearts How Chris de Burgh's voice drives grey clouds away during the open air concert in front of the Mainz cathedral Mainz. It looks dull for the "Lady In Red". Roland Koch has even put on his red leisure pullover - but the forecast isn't very rosy. The prime minister of Hesse quickly looks up the internet weather forecast in the backstage room of the concert organisers. But it needs more than a rain front in Mainz to put the conservative politician off the crusader bard Chris de Burgh. Especially since Koch has invited the congenial singer to the cloister Eberbach the next day for a meal with Riesling. On the other hand the Irish cloudy weather that played around the backdrop of the cathedral with silver strings, seemed to be made especially for the troubadour of the hearts who sparked off a fire of hope even in the darkest climatic July depression. "This place is absolutely wonderful", the indestructible charmer shouts towards the devotionally listening audience, and you won't believe it: The rain stops. And what happens next, nobody else can do this so quickly: Two, three songs, "The Words I Love You", "Shine On", "Here For You" - and the desire to cuddle for the couples all around the picturesque open air pavement is prehensile. Chris de Burgh jumps off stage, greets latecomers with a handshake, tells winkingly about his daughter Rosanna who had been "Miss World" - a not so tall man in black, who enchants his audience all alone on the twelve string guitar and piano, and who simply drives away the grey of the clouds with his balmy voice that sometimes goes up to falsetto, even if it starts dribbling again during "A Rainy Night In Paris". Apart from the fact that the 56 year old son of a diplomate with a Norman castle near Dublin is still worth his money, de Burgh could take his pay in kinds easily: The rain of roses and wine that goes down on the singer after every song should be enough for several floristic delicatessen shops. And rightly so, for de Burgh is a civilized entertainer who takes his audience for serious - and he is probably the only one in pop business who goes for real fan perpetrations, when he walks through the rows with his guitar and gets almost lost. Back on stage the storyteller waits for the beats of the tower clock, before he pleads for religious tolerance with "Up Here In Heaven". Even the sugary sweet Christmas hymn "A Spaceman Came Travelling" develops comforting emotions under gusts of wind. In the end Roland Koch goes down in the audience too, when the "Lady In Red", bordered by sparklers, lets break all causeys and the order of seats. Waving arms, the magic of a soul comforter "Where Peaceful Waters Flow", rocky advice: "Don't Pay The Ferryman". Two and a half hours of comforting waves, pigeons dive through the clouds above the heads like through schistose walls. But inside everything is bright. |
File last modified on August 26, 2006