British star Sting rocked Friday evening the majestic Roman Temple of Jupiter in the first of his two sold-out concerts at the heart of the eastern city of Baalbek.
Sting, wearing a multi-colored shirt, drove the audience to its feet especially when he sang the hits "Mad About You" and "Fields of Gold," during which the crowd was delicately lit by a sea of lighters.
"How nice to be in Lebanon. What a wonderful venue," Sting told the enthusiastic crowd sitting at the feet of the six colossal columns of the Temple of Jupiter.
The British star even invited a crazed fan on stage to dance with her, as the concert climaxed with three famous songs "Englishman in New York," "Roxanne" and "Desert Rose" which he sang accompanied by a young Lebanese percussionist on the traditional Derbakke drum.
The former Police frontman, who won a Grammy Award this year as best male vocal performer, is currently on a world tour.
The "King of Pain," as some of his fans know him from one of his more popular numbers, has been touring the Middle East this year, having already performed in Dubai, Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia.
This year's Baalbek summer festivals will also host performances by local and foreign stars, including the prestigious 340-year-old Paris Opera Ballet and Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia.
Also Friday evening, the famous Turkish group of sufi musician Kudsi Erguner performed an enchanting concert at the mountainous 19th century Beiteddine palace, which kicked off its summer festival last week with British rock star Elton John -- (AFP)
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