His new album, Songs Of The Labyrinth, released on Monday, has rocketed to number one in the classical album charts.

It has also entered at number 24 in the pop music charts - rubbing shoulders with the likes of Scissor Sisters and Razorlight.

Sixteenth century composer John Dowland is known to early music specialists, but Sting’s interest in his work has taken him into the mainstream, sparking a "lute renaissance", according to his record label.

Sting said of Dowland’s work: "For me they are pop songs. Beautiful melodies, fantastic lyrics, great accompaniments.

"I feel that my job as a pop artist is to develop as a musician, and to bring into my sphere elements that aren’t necessarily pop, more complex intervals, complex time signatures."

Sting collaborated with "skilled lutenist" Edin Karamazov to make the album with the highest level of expertise.

He follows a trend of pop and rock musicians such as Sir Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello who have turned to classical music.

A spokesman for classical record label Deustche Grammophon, which released Sting’s album, said: "We’re absolutely delighted. Sting is taking an interesting area of repertoire and popularising it."

Sting is selling his New York apartment for a staggering $24 million Aug 9 - 2006
The former Police frontman and wife Trudie Styler have decided they want something better than their current plush Central Park property and have put the apartment on the market.
The home contains four bedrooms, four bathrooms and, according to the New York Post newspaper.

Sting bought the apartment from singer Billy Joel, and his then-wife Christie Brinkley, in the late 80s before he was married to Trudie. However, the couple are not moving far, they have paid a rumoured $30 million for a new apartment currently being built at 15 Central Park West.

Among Sting and Trudie’s new neighbours is actor Denzel Washington who has reportedly purchased a flat which will be located just a few floors above the couple.


Sting and his seven homes - Aug 05
Sting has defended owning a staggering seven homes - claiming he needs them to keep him grounded. The millionaire rocker insists having so many houses means he can avoid staying in lavish hotels and having to pack a suitcase.

He said: "I do use all those houses, so it’s so important to have them. I spent 25 years living out of a suitcase travelling through hotels on tour, and it’s far nicer if you can go back to your own home instead with your own books, your own paintings and your own furniture. The singer boasts a home in Los Angeles, one in New York, two in London, one in Britain’s Lake District, a 20-room mansion in Tuscany, Italy and his family 60-acre home in Wiltshire, England. Sting also claims, despite his number of homes, he tries to lead a normal existence. He added: "I want to live as normally as possible and I demand my right to walk around in a normal way, without bodyguards."

Not talking - Aug 2005
Sting’s been expressing unease over talking to journalists. He’s told contactmusic.com that "I’ve said a lot of stupid things in the past. In America they once asked me what my home town was like and I said it was a nice place to bring up your food. I though it was hilarious at the time - but the people living there didn’t." No wonder he’s uneasy.
By Tom Knight

Sting will receive a humanitarian award - August 04
The musician is to be presented with the David Angell Humanitarian Award by the American Screenwriters Association.