Over a million individuals flocked to Brazil’s Copacabana beach for a complimentary Madonna concert last Saturday, enduring the heat to witness the conclusion of her Celebration world tour.
The sand and oceanfront promenade surrounding Rio de Janeiro’s renowned beach were packed for several blocks with an estimated crowd of 1.6 million.
Many attendees had arrived days in advance, while affluent fans anchored their boats near the beach, and spectators filled beachfront apartments.
Firefighters sprayed water to cool down fans near Madonna’s stage as temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), with free drinking water provided. The weather cooled to approximately 27 C (81 F) during the late-night performance.
Madonna, 65, entertained the audience with hits like Like a Prayer, Vogue, and Express Yourself for over two hours starting at 10:45 pm (0145 GMT on Sunday), concluding her greatest hits tour that commenced late last year.
Addressing the crowd, Madonna exclaimed, “Rio, here we are, in the most beautiful place in the world, with the ocean, the mountains, Jesus,” referring to the city’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.
She described the ambiance as “magic.” Brazilian pop stars Anitta and Pabllo Vittar, along with young musicians from samba schools, also participated.
To ensure security, over 3,000 police officers were stationed around the concert area, employing crowd-management tactics similar to those used during the city’s famous New Year’s Eve celebrations, which have attracted million-strong crowds for artists like the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart.
Brazilian authorities have increased their vigilance over heat-related health issues following the death of a young Brazilian fan from heat exhaustion at a Taylor Swift concert last year.
Rio’s state and city governments reported spending 20 million reais ($3.9 million) on the concert, with the remainder financed by private sponsors. Officials estimate the event could inject about 300 million reais into Rio’s economy.
