Die Welt - April 11, 2011
by nli translation by Astrid Nolde-GallaschFairy tales told as well as sung
Chris de Burgh: New songs in the O2 World Those who don't have any plans in the summer of 2012 and who can spare 1690 Euro, can think about the following: a concert holiday on the Maledives with Chris de Burgh on offer. Flyers advertise this journey, as the Irish singer performs on Saturday in front of 5500 guests in the O2 World. The Maledives, that's quite suitable for his new maritime program. "Moonfleet & Other Stories" is the title of the 18th album of the 62 year old, which is all about pirates and smugglers. Based on the novel "Moonfleet" by John Meade Falkner from the year 1898 de Burgh tells the story about the orphan John. He sings in catchy tunes about storms, the sea, hidden treasures, old sagas, friendship and love. Telling stories and fairy tales in his songs, is the greatest fun for him, explains Chris de Burgh in between some songs. He already published the first song of this genre in 1975 with "Spanish Train". And we wouldn't be surprised if he'd come back with a musical next. Not only because of the great stage backdrop, he creates some theater atmosphere already on this night: Keyboard and drums are being surrounded by a steering wheel, ship mast, sails, nets and wooden barrels. The opulently instrumented songs, which often contain Irish elements like flutes or accordion, really feel like a musical. De Burgh's four member band performs skilfully, the sound is crisp as glass. In the second part of his two and a half hour performance, de Burgh plays his big hits. During "Lady In Red" he gives out hugs, sings four songs on his own, while his band "deserts" in the meantime, he covers Toto's "Africa" and with "Don't Pay The Ferryman" and "High On Emotion" he puts us back into the 80s. In the end he receives more roses than he can carry. And rightly so.