Crowd of 1.5 million | Madonna enchants Rio in a “historic” concert

Just before 11pm (10pm) [heure de l’Est] On Sunday, the “Queen of Pop” appeared on stage in her black clothes, sparking the audience's joy with her performance Nothing really mattersa hymn to resilience.

About 1.5 million people were expected to attend the biggest concert of the star's career. Audiences sit on the sand, but also in the sea on board dozens of boats to enjoy the stunning scenery.

With this show announced a few days ago as “historic,” the 65-year-old American pop star concludes the “Celebration Tour” in style, which was filmed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her artistic career, inventions, brilliance and scandals.

On a gorgeous autumn day with summer temperatures, fans, often in swimsuits, continued to flock to shimmy as close as possible to the stage, a massive stage more than 800 meters high.².

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

“When I was nine, my older sister, who died last year, gave me my first Walkman with a cassette tape of 'Like a Virgin,' the hit song that launched Madonna. “We haven't stopped listening to it since. “For this reason, coming here for us is linked to our relationship as sisters.”

To add to the pressure, several DJs, including Diplo, the American turntablist, took turns at nightfall to liven up the “world's biggest dance floor.”

Then came the time for the Queen to leave her palace, or rather her palace: the legendary Copacabana Palace, which had been a haven of peace and luxury for Hollywood stars and pop stars for decades, where she had resided for her family since the beginning of the twentieth century for a week.

Madonna walked along the catwalk that had been prepared for the occasion, which took her directly to the stage.

The police are strongly present on almost every street in a neighborhood accustomed to deviance.

Memories and Material girl

“are you ready?” » (“Are you ready?”) She had released it on her Instagram account a few hours ago. She shared three photos, two of her waving the Brazilian flag, and another of her wearing the national football team's jersey, stamped with the number 10 and the letters “Ciccone”, her name in civil status.

After 80 concerts in Europe, North America and Mexico, the Rio show is a finale, but also a contempt of fate, while a serious bacterial infection brought the singer to intensive care in June 2023. It caused panic among fans around the world.

Opposite the Copacabana Palace and along the beach where souvenir sellers from the time of Madonna set up and increased their stocks and prices, the atmosphere seemed festive in recent days and brought to mind the lightness of the Rio Carnival, which completed almost three months ago.

Daddy doesn't preach, Bonita Island, Material girl…It's impossible to escape the Queen of Pop's classics covered everywhere.

Brazilian pop star Pablo Vittar and a band of young people playing the rhythm of carioca funk – the soundtrack to Rio's favelas – are scheduled to take the stage on Saturday night.

Brazilian singer Anita, who introduced Rio Funk to the rest of the world, has also been confirmed to attend.

Three planes and 270 tons of equipment landed in the “wonderful city” with the American star, who has experience in high-precision fireworks displays.

The parade is a big event for the city of Rio. The concert will generate 293 million riyals (53 million euros) for the local economy, according to the City Hall's calculation, which contributed 20 million riyals to an estimated production cost of 60 million.