Madonna gets "MDNA" world tour started in Israel
After a two-day setback due to production delays, Madonna launched her "MDNA" world tour last night (5/31) in Tel Aviv, Israel, despite opposition from area residents.
Originally scheduled to open May 29 at Ramat Gan Stadium in Tel Aviv, the tour launched last night to a sold-out crowd of 32,000, though the show was delayed slightly due to undisclosed technical malfunctions, according to Ynetnews.
The website reported that the Material Girl began the show in a confessional, then broke through its glass window holding a rifle pointed at the audience. The scene led into the concert's first song, "Girl Gone Wild," which also featured backup dancers dressed as monks.
"I chose to start my world tour in Israel for a very specific and important reason," Madonna explained to the audience between songs, according to Dubai-based news outfit Al Arabiya. "You can't be a fan of mine and not want peace in the world. We all bleed the same color. If we can all rise above our egos and our titles and the names of our countries and our religions, and treat everyone around us with dignity and respect, then we are on the road to peace. If there is peace here in the Middle East, there can be peace in the whole world."
Madonna's oldest son, 11-year-old Rocco Ritchie, joined his mother onstage for several songs and even performed a few costume changes of his own, according to the U.K.'s Daily Mail. He clapped alongside Madonna during "Papa Don't Preach" and later changed into a priest's outfit to join backup dancers.
"This show is epic and bigger than anything she's done before," costume designer and stylist Arianne Phillips told Women's Wear Daily earlier this week. "We're taking 700 shoes on the road. Madonna changes outfits seven or eight times and the dancers change 10 to 15 times, depending on the dancer."
The touring stylist said the production will also include on-stage appearances on stage by Madonna's 15-year-old daughter Lourdes.
Madonna met with members of the Palestinian Israeli Peace NGO Forum the day before the tour kick-off and gave them 600 tickets to the sold-out performance, according to Al Arabiya.
"MDNA," Madonna's 12th studio set, hit stores March 26 and debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart. The world tour continues with Middle Eastern and European dates through late August, after which the multiple-award winner will head stateside for a North American trek beginning Aug. 28 in Philadelphia.
3, 4 - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Yas Arena
7 - Istanbul, Turkey - Turk Telecom Arena
11 - Zagreb, Croatia - Maksimir Stadium
14 - Milan, Italy - Stadio San Siro
16 - Florence, Italy - Stadio Franchi
20, 21 - Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
24 - Coimbra, Portugal - Estadio Cidade de Coimbra
28, 30 - Berlin, Germany - O2 Arena
July 2012
2 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Parken Stadium
4 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Ullevi Stadium
7, 8 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
10 - Koln, Germany - Laxness Arena
12 - Brussels, Belgium - Stade Roi-Baudouin
14 - Paris, France - Stade de France
17 - London, United Kingdom - Hyde Park
21 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom - Murrayfield Stadium
24 - Dublin, Ireland - Aviva Stadium
29 - Vienna, Austria - Ernst-Happel Stadion
August 2012
1 - Warsaw, Poland - National Stadium
7 - Moscow, Russia - Olimpiski Arena
9 - St. Petersburg, Russia - SKK Arena
12 - Helsinki, Finland - Olympic Stadium
15 - Oslo, Norway - Telenor Arena
18 - Zurich, Switzerland - Stadion Letzigrund
21 - Nice, France - Stade Charles-Erhmann
28 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
30 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
September 2012
1 - Quebec City, Quebec - Plains of Abraham
4 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
6, 8 - New York, NY - Yankee Stadium
10 - Ottawa, Ontario - Scotiabank Place
12, 13 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
15 - Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk Hall
19, 20 - Chicago, IL - United Center
23, 24 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
29, 30 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Rogers Arena
October 2012
2, 3 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena
6, 7 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
10, 11 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
13, 14 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
16 - Phoenix, AZ - U.S. Airways Center
18 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
20, 21 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
24, 25 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
27 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
30 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
November 2012
1 - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
3, 4 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
6 - Pittsburgh, PA - Consol Energy Center
8 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena (on sale 3/19)
10 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
15 - Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Arena
17 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
19, 20 - Miami, FL - AmericanAirlines
24 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Sol
28 - Medellin, Colombia - Estadio Atanasio Giradot
December 2012
1 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Parque dos Atletas
4 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Estadio do Morumbi
9 - Porto Alegre, Brazil - Etadio Olimpico
19 - Santiago, Chile - Estadio Nacional
Never miss a story
Get the news as it happens via Facebook, Twitter or our old-fashioned RSS feed
Follow @soundspike