Free Madonna concert draws crowd of 1.6m to Brazil’s Copacabana beach | Madonna

With the world-famous statue towering over it from Corcovado mountain, Rio de Janeiro is nicely used to Christ the Redeemer. For one evening solely this weekend, it additionally had Madonna.

Greater than one million individuals thronged Copacabana seashore on Saturday evening, turning its huge stretch of sand into an enormous dancefloor for a free live performance by the pop star as she accomplished her world tour.

“Right here we’re in essentially the most lovely place on the planet,” Madonna, 65, instructed the tightly packed crowd. Stating the ocean view and the mountains, she added: “This place is magic.”

Within the run-up to the live performance, town had been buzzing, with followers lined up exterior the stately Copacabana Palace lodge within the hope of catching a glimpse of the star. Town’s airport fielded an estimated 170 additional flights as followers poured in from around the globe.

Metropolis officers estimated that 1.6 million individuals turned up for the live performance, some watching from brightly lit residences or resorts overlooking the seashore, whereas others seemed on from motorboats and sailboats anchored close by.

As drones and helicopters flew overhead, the singer supplied up a stunning present, enjoying classics starting from Like a Virgin to Like a Prayer, and biking by means of dozens of units and costume modifications.

Flanked by large screens, she started the present along with her 1998 hit Nothing Actually Issues, eliciting an enormous cheer from the group.

“Oi, Rio!” she known as out in Portuguese. The response was swift, carried by greater than one million voices: “Oi, Queen Madonna!”

The singer additionally paid an emotional tribute to “all the brilliant lights” misplaced to Aids as she sang Reside to Inform, towards a backdrop of black-and-white photographs that includes individuals who died from the sickness.

The Brazilian pop artists Anitta and Pabllo Vittar, in addition to youthful musicians from samba faculties, additionally took half within the present.

The present, which Madonna’s official web site described as the largest ever in her 40-year profession, marked the ultimate cease on her Celebration tour. Large screens and 18 sound towers had been unfold out alongside the seashore to make sure the crowds may benefit from the occasion.

Followers, lots of whom lined up hours and even days earlier than the live performance to get a very good view, hailed Madonna’s efficiency. “I’ve by no means seen such a strong present,” one instructed the BBC. “It’s unimaginable, very a lot out of the unusual,” she added.

“Madonna is spectacular,” stated one other. “There’s no live performance higher than Madonna’s.”

Metropolis officers, on excessive alert after a younger Brazilian fan died at a Taylor Swift live performance final 12 months because of warmth exhaustion, ordered firefighters to chill down followers by spraying water earlier than the live performance. Free consuming water was additionally handed out as temperatures hovered at about 27C (81F) throughout the late-night present.

Greater than 3,000 law enforcement officials had been deployed across the live performance space, the place the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart have additionally drawn million-strong crowds.

Throughout Rio, anticipation had been constructing all week. “Welcome, Queen!” learn Heineken advertisements plastered across the metropolis, whereas bars and eating places served up “Like a Virgin” cocktails. Throughout the Copacabana neighbourhood, the singer’s picture was emblazoned on billboards, souvenirs and T-shirts.

As lodge bookings in Copacabana climbed to an estimated 98% of capability, Rio state’s safety readied plans that included the presence of three,200 army personnel and 1,500 civilian law enforcement officials on standby, whereas the nation’s navy carried out inspections of any vessel trying to observe the live performance offshore. Metropolis officers estimated that the live performance would inject as a lot as 293m reais (£46m) into the native financial system.

With contributions from Related Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse