Hits, sex, religious symbols, incessant outfit changes, skillful choreography: Madonna enchanted Rio de Janeiro on Saturday evening during a monumental concert and free on the legendary Copacabana beach.
How many were there, for the biggest show of the star’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.
Shortly before 11 p.m., the “queen of pop”, 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.
As a closing
With this concert announced for days as “historic”, the 65-year-old American popstar closed “The Celebration Tour” in style, toured to the glory of her 40-year career, inventions, brilliance and scandals .
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.
Flanked by several of her children, accompanying her for music or dance, Madonna was also honored by distinguished guests, against a backdrop of the Brazilian flag.
When she performed her hit “Vogue,” she was joined on stage by Brazilian singer Anitta, the one who introduced carioca funk – the soundtrack of Rio’s favelas – to the rest of the world.
Drag queen Pabllo Vittar, a Brazilian pop star, and a troupe of children playing percussion in the city’s famous samba schools were also there.
Under close surveillance
To build up the pressure before the concert, several DJs, including Diplo, an American turntable ace, took turns at nightfall to bring joy to “the biggest dance floor in the world”.
Then the time came for the queen to leave her palace, or rather her palace: the legendary Copacabana Palace, a haven of peace and luxury for Hollywood and pop stars for decades, where she has established her family quarters since the beginning of the week. Madonna walked along a catwalk installed for the occasion, which took her directly to the stage.
For the event, the police were present in force, almost in every street in a neighborhood accustomed to delinquency, but also in the air with helicopters and drones.
After 80 concerts in Europe, North America and Mexico, the Rio show serves as a finale, but also as a snub to destiny, while a serious bacterial infection had landed the singer in intensive care in June 2023. and panicked fans around the world.
Millions of recipes
Opposite the Copacabana Palace and along the beach where souvenir sellers have set up on Madonna time and increased their stocks and prices, the atmosphere has been festive in recent days and recalled the lightness of the Rio carnival, yet completed almost three months ago.
Three planes and 270 tons of equipment landed in the “Wonderful City” with the American star, experienced in high-precision pyrotechnic shows.
The show was a major event for the city of Rio. The concert will 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.
