Rheinische Post - March 28, 2011
by Max Florian Kühlem translation by Astrid Nolde-GallaschChris de Burgh enthuses in Cologne
When Chris de Burgh is far from Cologne, for example at home in Ireland, he dreams of a summer night at the Rhine with a glass of Kölsch. At least that way he flatters the 7000 fans in the sold-out Lanxess arena. This would not have been necessary. For the audience was already addicted after the opening song of the current album "Moonfleet & Other Stories". On this one the bard has transformed the 18th century adventure story by John Meade Falkner into music. This work is being labelled as his opus magnum, because Chris de Burgh has created a soft rock opera with dispersions of folk, seafaring romance and cuddle pop. "Go Where Your Heart Believes" is such a tearjerker, which plays in the same league as Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On". Already early in the night the mostly female audience waves with lighters, bouquets of flowers are being brought to stage. Everything about Chris de Burgh's performance is discreet. Only a couple of times video screens hover low above the stage, which appears to be a pirate ship with just a few props. The singer never overstrains with too much new material, and puts hits like "Missing You" or "Road To Freedom" into it. Finally with "Lady in Red" the hall is cooking, during which he takes a bath in the crowd, hugs people, appears to be like an old friend, who always likes to show up for a glass of Kölsch.