What’s the story behind Sting playing with the Florida Orchestra again?

Sting just played a sold-out stadium show in Tampa with Billy Joel in February. But when the English musician takes the stage at St. Petersburg’s Mahaffey Theater this week, he’ll show Tampa Bay a whole other side.

During two benefit concerts, Sting will team up with the Florida Orchestra to play his most beloved songs, from “Englishman In New York” to “Fields of Gold.” The show on Thursday, May 9, is already sold out. Tickets are still available for the Friday, May 10, performance, with prices ranging from $100 to $1,500 for a spot in the front row.

Sting is no stranger to collaborating with orchestras. His 2010 album and concert film, “Sting …Live in Berlin,” features the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Since early 2023, he’s played shows with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony. And he has a history with the Florida Orchestra, playing at the 50th Anniversary Gala back in 2017.

So why is Sting coming back to St. Pete?

“He’s a highly cultured man,” said the Florida Orchestra’s musical director, Michael Francis, during a February phone interview. “He’s very interested in performance of songs by Renaissance composers. He’s really interested in orchestras and supporting the arts in general.”

Francis said conducting the orchestra during Sting’s 2017 performance was one of the most memorable concerts he’s been a part of. The Mahaffey seats about 1,900 patrons, providing an up-close and personal experience.

“It’s really touching, and when you hear it coming across with the full violin section, or hearing some of the great melodies being blared out by our brass sections, these are exceptionally good arrangements,” Francis said. “It feels like it goes into a completely different technicolor. It’s a little bit like Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz’. ...It’s extremely emotional.”

If you go

An Intimate Evening with Sting takes place at 8 p.m. on May 9 and 10 at the Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg. Tickets are sold out for the first night, but still available for May 10. (727) 892-3337. floridaorchestra.org.