Sting first visited Russia in March 1996. As a part of his Mercury Falling World Tour the famous musician played two gigs at the Kremlin palace in Moscow. The shows were co-sponsored by the Alfa-Bank and SAV Entertainment.
	Two days before the shows Sting s press conference took place in the Baltshug Kempinski hotel, attracting a host of Russian and international media. Answering numerous questions, ranging from boring to risky, Sting revealed his discretion and tact, truly British. The powerful sense of humor, another English quality, was also there. Sting was supported by his band: Kenny Kirkland on keyboards, Vinnie Colayuta on drums and Dominic Miller on guitar. Both shows opened with the widely known If I Ever Loose My Faith In You and closed with the emotional Fragile. In his show Sting included many of his hits but, to the fans chagrin, omitted one of the ones most popular here, Russians. He just incorporated an instrumental part from this «perestroika» anthem into Roxanne. Both music critics and fans noticed Sting s harsher and heavier sound.
	While in Moscow, the guest from the British Isles managed to see some Kremlin museums and the Tretyakov Gallery, listen to Romeo and Juliet in the Bolshoi, visit the Red Square and attend reception in his honor in the British Embassy. Sting also visited several restaurants and night clubs.

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