Rio de Janeiro is celebrating! But this time, it is not the carnival that shakes the city, but a large-scale musical event: “Operation Madonna”. On Saturday May 4, on the famous Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, the superstar, known for her hits such as “Like a Virgin”, “Material Girl”, and “Vogue”, will offer her biggest concert until present, and completely free!
The icon of female emancipation and the LGBTQIA+ community, who has been igniting crowds since the 1980s, is preparing to set the Brazilian public on fire to conclude her tour. With an electric atmosphere, a spectacular setting and breathtaking performances, this event promises to be one of the highlights of the year in the country. 20 Minutes reveals the impressive figures surrounding the feat that the 65-year-old singer is about to achieve.
40 years of career
In the spotlight since 1982 with her first single “Everybody”, she surprised the world with her hit “Like a Virgin” which addresses the sexual emancipation of women. Madonna, the avant-garde and daring figure, closes her 80-date tour in Rio with a concert open to all her audience. Since his arrival in Brazil on Monday, the entire country has been adorned in the colors of the theme.
1.5 million spectators
A few steps away from becoming one of the biggest concerts in the country, “Operation Madonna” rivals the Rolling Stones’ stage of 2006 and will bring 1.5 million spectators to Copacabana beach this Saturday. It would be the biggest concert of the career of the singer, considered the most popular female artist still active according to the Guinness Book of Records. Having sold more than 400 million records, the record holder for the most records sold of all time is still reaching new heights.
270 tonnes of material
For the occasion, 3 planes and 270 tonnes of equipment were brought to the site to ensure the long-awaited show. And that’s not all, the celebrity will perform on a gigantic stage of 800 square meters, connected to a footbridge leading to his quarters near the Copacabana Palace. It just goes to show that the star doesn’t do things by halves.
53 million euros profit
Commerce, hotels, goodies… everything revolves around Madonna, everything is mobilized for the concert. So much so that the local economy could gain 293 million reais, or 53 million euros, thanks to the attraction that the event will create, or 30 times more than the investments made, according to AFP. So, only profit.
150,000 tourists
Fans from all walks of life came to attend the pop star’s unforgettable concert. With the expected arrival of 150,000 foreigners for the event, the hotels are almost all full.
4,500 agents mobilized
This is not the first time that Rio beach has been transformed into a real showplace to host large-scale events. To guarantee the success and security of this exceptional occasion, no less than 4,500 agents are mobilized, supported by cutting-edge devices such as drones and facial recognition cameras. It is in this context that the “queen of pop” will be able to deploy her colorful show, thus offering spectators a memorable and immersive experience.