Madonna enchants Rio in “historic” concert

A planetary star, a dream city, a legendary beach. Madonna foundé Saturday evening his fans &agrav; Rio de Janeiro during a monumental and free concert on Copacabana beach.

Shortly before 11:00 p.m. (02:00 GMT Sunday), the “queen of pop”, dressed all in black, appeared on stage, making the crowd capsize with happiness by performing “Nothing Really Matters”, a hymn to resilience.

Some 1.5 million people were expected for the biggest concert of the star's career. An audience seated on the sand, but also at sea aboard dozens of boats to enjoy a breathtaking view.

With this show announced for days as “historic “, the 65-year-old American popstar closes “The Celebration Tour” in style, filmed to celebrate her 40-year career, inventions, highlights and scandals.

On a splendid autumn day with summer temperatures, the fans, often in swimsuits, continued to flock to vibrate as close as possible to the stage, a gigantic stage of more than 800 m2 .

Alba and Roxy Rueda, two Argentine sisters aged 48 and 46, bought their plane tickets as soon as the rumor of the concert emerged a few months ago .

Madonna on stage for her free concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, May 4, 2024 © AFP – Pablo PORCIUNCULA

“When I was nine years old, my older sister, who died last year, gave me my first walkman with the cassette of +Like a Virgin+”, the hit that launched Madonna. “Since then we haven't stopped listening to her. For this reason, coming here is linked for us to our relationship as sisters,” says Alba.

To increase the pressure, several DJs, including Diplo, an American turntable ace, took turns at nightfall to bring joy to “the biggest dance floor in the world”.

Then came the time 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 established her family quarters since the beginning of the week.

Madonna walked along a footbridge installed for the occasion, which led her directly to the stage.

The police are present in force, almost in every street in a neighborhood accustomed to delinquency.

– Souvenirs and “Material Girl” –

“Are you ready?”, she had launched on her Instagram account a few hours earlier. She shared three images, two where she brandishes the Brazilian flag and another where she wears the jersey of the national football team, stamped with the number 10 and the letters “Ciccone”, her name in the civil registry.

The crowd attends the first part, featuring DJ Diplo, of Madonna's free concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, May 4, 2024 © AFP – Daniel Ramalho

After 80 concerts in Europe, North America and Mexico, the Rio show was the finale, but also a snub to destiny, after a serious bacterial infection led to June 2023 the singer in intensive care and panicked fans around the world.

In front of the Copacabana Palace and along the beach where souvenir sellers have set up shop Madonna hour and have increased their stocks and prices, the atmosphere has been festive in recent days and recalled the lightness of the Rio carnival, although it ended almost three months ago.

“Papa Don't Preach”, “La Isla Bonita”, “Material Girl”… Impossible to escape the classics of the queen of pop, covered everywhere.

Spectators arrive at Madonna's free concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, May 4, 2024. © AFP – TERCIO TEIXEIRA

Drag queen Pabllo Vittar, a Brazilian pop star, and a troupe of young people playing carioca funk percussion – the soundtrack of Rio's favelas – are also due to take the stage on Saturday evening.

The presence of the Brazilian singer Anitta, the one who introduced Rio funk to the rest of the world, is also confirmed.

< p>Three planes and 270 tons of equipment landed in the “Wonderful City” with the American star, experienced in high-precision pyrotechnic shows.

The show is 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.

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