Sting, the legendary British musician and 17-time Grammy Award winner, delivered a truly unique performance as part of ARTE Concert’s “Sounds Like Art” series. Staged within the hallowed halls of Amsterdam’s iconic Rijksmuseum on 19 January 2026, this special event saw the former frontman of The Police engage in a captivating musical dialogue with some of history’s most revered artworks. Inspired by the Dutch Golden Age masters, Sting’s setlist was a thoughtful response to the masterpieces of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Judith Leyster. He performed amidst the very canvases that moved him, including Rembrandt’s monumental “The Night Watch,” which at the time was encased for restoration, adding another layer of historical context to the performance. Accompanied by a rare 17th-century guitar, loaned specifically for the occasion, Sting wove together excerpts from his musical “The Last Ship” with a selection of his most beloved hits, such as “Message in a Bottle,” “Shape of My Heart,” and “Every Breath You Take.” This intimate concert transcended a typical live show, offering a profound fusion of music and visual art, a testament to Sting’s enduring artistry and his ability to find inspiration in diverse creative realms. The setting provided an extraordinary backdrop, allowing his sophisticated songwriting and distinctive vocal delivery to resonate deeply within the museum’s grand architecture.
Setlist: