In front of a huge crowd gathered on the seaside in Rio Janeiro, the “queen of pop” closed in style in Brazil on Saturday May 4 evening the world tour to celebrate her forty-year career.
A global star, a dream city, a legendary beach. Madonna ignited her fans’ evening in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday May 4, with a monumental and free concert on Copacabana beach.
How many were there for the biggest show of the “Queen of Pop”’s career? Hundreds of thousands of fans, a million? Or a million and a half, the figure mentioned in advance? Impossible to say. But the immense beach was packed with people and the crowds were fervent. And dozens of boats had approached to enjoy a breathtaking view.
After a splendid day in summer weather (over 30°C in the middle of autumn), “the largest dance floor in the world” lit up at nightfall with the appearances of several DJs, including Diplo, an ace American turntables. Brazilian singer Anitta, the one who introduced Rio funk to the rest of the world, also took part in the party. In 2020, the “poderosa” (the powerful) released the song “Faz Gostoso” with Madonna.
Shortly before 11 p.m., the American megastar, dressed all in black, appeared on stage performing “Nothing Really Matters”, an anthem to resilience. “Here we are, Rio, the most beautiful place in the world!” : the diva delighted the Brazilian public for more than two hours.
On a gigantic stage of more than 800 m2, she reviewed her heyday and the bewildering series of her musical and sartorial metamorphoses, from pop to electronic music including moments of cabaret inspiration.
At 65 years old, the American popstar thus closed “The Celebration Tour” in style, filmed to celebrate her forty-year career, inventions, brilliance and scandals.
After 80 concerts in Europe, North America and Mexico, the Rio show was the final bouquet, but also a snub to destiny, while a serious bacterial infection had led the singer into treatment in June 2023. intensive and panicked fans around the world.
No less than three planes and 270 tons of equipment had landed in the “Wonderful City” with the American star, experienced in high-precision pyrotechnic shows.
This giant concert was also a major event for the Brazilian city. The concert was expected to generate 293 million reais (53 million euros) for the local economy, calculated the town hall, which contributed 20 million reais to a production cost estimated at 60 million.
