The MDNA Tourwas the ninthconcert tourby American singerMadonna,launched in-support of her twelfth studio album,MDNA(2012). Comprising 88 shows, the tour began on May 31, 2012, at theRamat Gan StadiuminTel Aviv District,Israel, and concluded on December 22 of the same year at theEstadio Mario Alberto KempesinCórdoba,Argentina. Rumors of the singer embarking on aconcert tourfirst began in October 2011, but nothing was confirmed until four months later, following her performance at theSuper Bowl XLVI halftime show.As Madonna's fifth tour withLive Nation,the MDNA Tour visited not onlyEurasiaand theAmericas,but marked the first time she performed in theUnited Arab Emirates,UkraineandColombia.Additionally, it was her first visit toTurkeysince 1993'sthe Girlie Show.AnAustralianleg was planned for January 2013, but was cancelled.

The MDNA Tour
World tourbyMadonna
Promotional poster for the tour
Location
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • North America
  • South America
Associated albumMDNA
Start dateMay 31, 2012(2012-05-31)
End dateDecember 22, 2012(2012-12-22)
Legs4
No.of shows88
Box officeUS$305.2 million[a]
Madonnaconcert chronology

Described as "the journey of a soul from darkness to light", it was divided into thematic sections —a custom for the singer:Transgression,Prophecy,Masculine/Feminine,andRedemption.Designers working on the tour's wardrobe includedArianne PhillipsandJean Paul Gaultier.It received generally positive reviews fromcritics,who praised the production and performances. The lack of the singer's older songs, and inclusion ofMDNAtracks, however, received criticism. The tour sparked several controversies due to the use of firearms, violence, partial nudity, and Madonna's political statements. Frenchfar-rightpoliticianMarine Le Penfiled a lawsuit against her, after Madonna featured a video clip comparing Le Pen toAdolf Hitler.Also, in France, one concert offered atParis'sOlympiavenue was critically panned and trashed by fans for its short length. In Russia, Madonna received backlash from far-right conservatives for openly supporting feministpunk rockbandPussy Riot,and for speaking openly against the country'sgay “propaganda” lawsand treatment ofLGBTQ+communities.

The tour was a commercial success; with $305.2 million from 88 sold-out shows, it was named the most lucrative tour of 2012 and became thetenth highest-grossing of all time.Madonna was awarded Top Touring Artist at the2013BillboardMusic Awards.The concerts performed atMiami'sAmerican Airlines Arenawere filmed and broadcast asMadonna: The MDNA TourthroughEPIX.Alive albumtitledMDNA World Tourwas released on September 10, 2013, in all formats; double-disc album,DVD,andBlu-ray.

Background

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Madonna andLMFAOperforming during theSuper Bowl XLVI halftime show,months before the MDNA Tour began.

In October 2011,fansiteDrownedMadonna released a supposed 2012 tour itinerary fromLive Nation,with dates inAuckland,Singapore,Thailand,Philippines,China,South Korea,Japan,Abu DhabiandTel Aviv.[2]Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, later confirmed this to be false.[3]A month later, Madonna partnered withSmirnoffto produce a global dance contest called the "Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project", where she, along with her choreographers and managerGuy Oseary,judged dancers at New York'sRoseland Ballroom;the winner would get to join her on a then-unnamed concert tour.[4]The winner of the contest wasCharles "Lil Buck" Riley,who was chosen from eleven finalists.[5]

On February 5, 2012, Madonna performed at theSuper Bowl XLVI halftime showatLucas Oil StadiuminIndianapolis,Indiana.[6]The next day, a press release on her official site announced the first dates for the tour, simply titled 2012 World Tour.[7]Live Nation executiveArthur Fogelreported that it would be Madonna's most extensive tour ever, in terms of sheer number of concerts. Set to play 26 European markets before continuing to North and South America, the tour would conclude in Australia in early 2013;[8]it would be the singer's first tour of Australia sincethe Girlie Show(1993), twenty years earlier.[9]Venues would include arenas, stadiums and "unique outdoor sites", such asQuébec City'sPlains of Abraham.[8]Madonna's twelfth studio album,MDNA,was released on March 26, 2012.[10]The next day, the singer took to Twitter to celebrate the album release, answering questions from fans. On the occasion, she announced the tour name as The MDNA Tour.[11][12][13]For every ticket purchased online, United States residents received their choice of a digital or physical copy ofMDNA;[7]according to Fogel, around 30% of ticket buyers had signed up for a free copy of the album.[14]The Wall Street Journalreported that 200,000 to 250,000 copies of the album were given away with concert tickets.[14]

On July 18, it was reported that the Australian leg had been cancelled; a spokesperson stated that, "Madonna's tour will end in South America in December as planned. That's all we can say". This was met with backlash from Australian fans, who voiced their anger online.[15]The singer then posted an audio message onYouTubeapologizing to her fans; in the upload, she explained "my children are my first priority", describing the difficulty of balancing her jobs as a singer and mother. "Please forgive me and know that when I do come to Australia, I will have made the wait worth your while and I will put on the greatest show on Earth. I haven’t forgotten about you", the audio concluded.[16]

Development

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Conception and rehearsals

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Views of the stage in both an outdoor (top) and indoor (bottom) venue, showing the inflatable roof, backdrop screens, catwalk and pit enclosing the audience.

The MDNA Tour was Madonna's fifth tour with Live Nation; it was first discussed in the summer of 2010 after architectMark Fisherhad several conversations with Guy Oseary and Arthur Fogel.[17]Jake Berry, who had worked onU2's360° Tour,joined the conversations early on, and the financial and logistical framework was set by the end of the year.[17]This period of time was referred to by Fogel as an "established window"; Fogel also noted that Madonna's tours had become a "cultural touch point", that remain a "unique animal" in terms of "striking a chord" with fans and generating media coverage.[8]During aFacebookchat withJimmy Fallon,Madonna confirmed that she would not repeat any performance from the Super Bowl on tour, which she described as "[the] journey of a soul from darkness to light [...] part cinematic musical theatre. [...] Part spectacle and sometimes intimate Performance art".[18][19]She also explained that the concert would be divided into different thematic acts―a stylistic tradition for her shows―and that the first act would be titledTransgression.[18]She further revealed the show would include "a lot of violence".[20]The four acts were later revealed to beTransgression,Prophecy,Masculine/Feminine,andRedemption.[21]Jamie Kingwas appointedcreative director;the performance ensemble included backup singersKiley DeanandNicki Richards,Monte Pittmanon guitar (from previous tours with Madonna), and more than 15 dancers (including aforementioned competition winner Lil Buck).[22]Madonna askedSlacklinerAndy Lewisto be part of the tour but he turned the offer down.[23]BasquebandKalakan,whom the singer discovered while vacationing inGuéthary,was hired to perform on a re-worked version of "Open Your Heart".[24]

Rehearsals for the pre-production phase took place in an unused warehouse inManhattan,that was transformed into a studio, with a mock-stage; on May 27, 2012, the troupe moved to an actual stage erected at theNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum,inUniondale,for full production rehearsals.[17]Describing the rehearsals as "brutal" and "violent", Madonna posted pictures of herself covered in bruises on Facebook.[25]As rehearsals moved to the tour’s opening-night location atRamat Gan Stadium,Tel Aviv,more pictures from rehearsals were released online;[26]video footage confirmed songs like "Celebration"and"Express Yourself",the latter being amashupwithLady Gaga's 2011 single "Born This Way",which has a similar chord progression.[27][28]A number of fakeset listsfor the tour circulated on the internet, withMTVfinally revealing the official song selections on May 14.[29]The MDNA Tour officially began inTel Avivon May 31, 2012, and ended onCórdoba, Argentina,on December 22.[30][31]On why she chose to kick-off in Israel, Madonna said: "I chose to start my world tour [in Israel] for a very specific and important reason [...] the Middle East and all the conflicts that have been occurring here for thousands of years – they have to stop".[32]

Stage and costume design

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Stagecodeveloped, manufactured and supplied the stage for the MDNA Tour.[17]It was triangle-shaped and included a catwalk enclosing a VIP area in the centre, bridging over the audience at 8 feet (2.4 m) high and dropping down to 5 feet (1.5 m) at the end. The stage counted with severalliftsthat were positioned throughout so that props and dancers could be brought up at specific moments. Overhead, there were two heavy duty tracks used to move people and scenery.[33]Additionally, it was six stories high so that members of the audience sitting far away would still be able to see Madonna.[34]An inflatable, custom-built roof structure was used to cover the stage on outdoor concerts; it was provided by Buitink Technology in collaboration with European Future Structures NV. With a surface of approximately 1.100m2,it consisted of 11 separate cushions filled with air. The singer opted for an inflatable roof for two reasons: simplicity of erection and protection against the weather.[35]

For "Vogue",Madonna donned a re-worked version of theJean Paul Gaultier-designed conical corset.

The backdrop of the stage was made from eight tracking and rotating video screens, which were described as being the largest ever built for a concert.[33][36]Another feature was an undulatingLEDfloor with 36 cube-shaped lifts provided byTait Tower;[37]placed in the middle of stage, the cubes were clad in LED video, measured 1 by 1 metre (3.3 ft × 3.3 ft) and could go up and down at a speed of 67 centimetres (26 in) per second and reach a height of 4.78 metres (15.7 ft). When retracted, the cube surfaces were precisely alined with the floor in order to create a flat surface.[33][37]Props for the show included athurible,a largeconfessional,a moving motel room, fake guns including aKalashnikov rifleandUzis,large chandeliers, kinetic mirrors and a rustic multi-layered riser, from where Kalakan performed.[33][32][38]It took four planes to ferry the tour across countries.[17]

Designers working on the tour's wardrobe includedArianne Phillips,Jean Paul Gaultier,Jeremy ScottandAlexander Wang.[39]Dolce & Gabbanacreated the outfits worn by the band and background vocalists; 700 shoes were provided byPrada,Miu Miuand Madonna's own brandTruth or Dare.[40]Costumes created by Phillips included aJoan of Arc-inspired getup fashioned from metal mesh andSwarovskicrystals, and a 1940s-inspired "playful and fun"majoretteuniform.[40]Phillips recalled that, "one of the greatest things about Madonna is that she's so prolific [...] Whether it's her attention to detail as a director or her own work as a performer on a tour, [...] it's the same attention to detail".[41]Jean Paul Gaultier created the look for the performance of "Vogue",consisting of white shirt, black tie, opera-length black gloves and a rigid skeleton conical corset; the corset was a nod to the one worn by the singer on herBlond Ambition World Tour(1990), "but reinterpreted in 3-D, in patent leather on the outside with metallic leather on the inside", according to the designer.[40]Hervé LegerbyMax Azriaprovided a custom-made harness;[42]additional articles of clothing included lingerie provided by Truth or Dare, bandolier vests and rams head masks created by Fausto Puglisi, and custom-made jeans byJ Brand.[43]The singer made eight costume changes throughout the concert.[39]

Multimedia and video

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The opening video depicted a "realistic" gothic cathedral (left), while "I'm a Sinner" (right) had Madonna standing on the cube-shaped lifts and the backdrops screens showing a train traveling through India.

Madonna recruited the services of Canadian multimedia companyMoment Factoryto create the tour's visuals; it was the second time the singer had worked with this company, following the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show. The team had four months to develop concepts, create designs and produce multimedia content for 12 songs, including "Papa Don't Preach","Express Yourself "," Vogue "," I'm a Sinner ","Like a Prayer"and" Celebration ". The process required full2Dand3Danimation production, with video shoots taking place in India, New York and Montreal.[17]According to Johanna Marsal, content creator for Moment Factory, after being assigned the songs, they would brainstorm a main idea for each one with show director Michael Laprise, video technical director Stefaan Desmedt and choreographers Rich + Tone; they then would developmood boardsand concept boards that Madonna had to approve.[44][45]The ideas and concepts they came up with for the visuals were influenced by what Madonna and the dancers would wear onstage, along with thinking about how the live audience would see the concert.[44]Marsal recalled that the singer would sometimes "have certain words from songs" and the team's work would be to develop a concept with said idea.[45]They also were given "a lot of flexibility and freedom" and would touch base with the lighting and set designers.[44]

The opening act, "Girl Gone Wild",took place in a" photo realistic church ", for which the team of Moment Factory created amatte paintingof an ornate 3Dcathedral.[44][45]Shooting for the visuals used for the track "Gang Bang",which showed blood being spattered, lasted three days and took place in Montreal.[17]For the performance of "I'm a Sinner", the singer wanted to capture a "psychedelicjourney ", thus Moment Factory travelled to India and filmed from the back of a train.[17]Finally, visuals for "Celebration" were described as a "full-blown spectacle of color and movement".[45]Tom MunroandJohan Söderbergcreated a video that morphed Madonna's face with a number of famous figures, including then-Chinese PresidentHu Jintao,USRepublicanformervice presidentialcandidateSarah PalinandPope Benedict XVI.[46][47]Used for the song "Nobody Knows Me",the singer explained the video was about" intolerance that we human beings have for one another. And how much we judge people before knowing them ".[48]Munro also created a video of Madonna hiding from a gang of masked clowns in a luxurious hotel room, projected on the number "Justify My Love".[49][50]For the "Express Yourself" / "Born This Way" mashup, Madonna used imagery of Roy Lichensteinand a video of monsters swallowing cans emblazoned with images of the corset and ponytail from her Blond Ambition World Tour andDavid Bowie'sAladdin Sanelightning bolt;[51]this was seen as Madonna taking a "deliberate shot" at Gaga bySlant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani, as "monsters" is how Gaga refers to herfanbase.[52]The logo for themagazine of the same nameflashed on screens during the performance of "Vogue".[40]Videos ofLil Wayne,Nicki MinajandM.I.A.were used on the performances of "Revolver","I Don't Give A",and"Give Me All Your Luvin'",respectively.[50][36]

According to Stefaan Desmedt, one of the biggest challenges wasmappingthe videos on the cube lifts. For this, he worked with aDRcontroller made by UVA with features that were custom configured to project visuals on the screens. Desmedt recalled that working on Madonna's show was very different to other concerts "because it’s very theatrical [...] Whereas usually, you’d be cutting to the music, here you’re cutting to very tiny details. It’s less flexible".[17]

Concert synopsis

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Madonna and her dancers opening the concert with "Girl Gone Wild".

The show was divided into four sections:Transgression,Prophecy,Masculine/Feminine,andRedemption.It began with a cathedral setting, with theKalakan triodoing religious chanting and pushing the thurible. The chants eventually morph into chants of Madonna's name, as the two main backdrop screens split open to reveal the confessional covered byscrimat the front and with the singer inside. As "Girl Gone Wild"began, she pretended to smash and break through the glass window of the confessional with a large rifle and proceeded to perform the song accompanied by a troupe of shirtless dancers wearing high heels, doing a choreography similar to the song's music video. The show continued with"Revolver",which saw the singer and the female dancers holding automatic rifles andLil' Wayneon the screens. "Gang Bang"followed; performed in the moving motel room, Madonna shot dancers dangling from above the stage as blood splashed the backdrops. A shortened"Papa Don't Preach"is sung on the tip of the stage's triangle-shaped end. Then, dancers dressed in army pants and animal masks surrounded and tied the singer up, giving way to"Hung Up".This number had her slacklining while dancers slid under the ropes. Madonna closed the first section performing"I Don't Give A"on guitar whileNicki Minajappeared on the backdrops sitting on a throne. The first video interlude featured various tombstones and a man walking through a cemetery; set to a mashup ofMDNAtrack "Best Friend", and "Heartbeat" fromHard Candy(2008), it hadcontortionistdancers performing in gas masks.

"Express Yourself"opened theProphecysegment; Madonna and her dancers were decked out asmajorettesand did achoreography with a baton.Halfway through, she sang a snippet ofLady Gaga's "Born This Way"and her own" She's Not Me "fromHard Candy.The next number, "Give Me All Your Luvin'",had adrumlinesuspended in mid-air and Minaj and M.I.A. on the screens. Afterwards, a video interlude called "Turning Up the Hits" started, where excerpts of "Holiday","Into the Groove","Lucky Star","Like a Virgin","4 Minutes","Ray of Light"and"Music"were played; this led to"Turn Up the Radio",with the singer in a black leather dress and playing guitar. A reworked"Open Your Heart",and Basque song" Sagarra Jo! "were sung by Madonna and the Kalakan trio."Masterpiece"closed the act, as scenes fromW.E.played on the backdrops. A remixed interlude of "Justify My Love"began theMasculine/Feminineact; the black-and-white video showed Madonna running away from masked dancers and locking herself inside a room. "Vogue"saw her wearing the re-worked Gaultier conical corset while the dancers wore black-and-white avant-garde outfits. Madonna lost the corset for the mashup of" Candy Shop "and"Erotica",performed in a Frenchcabaretsetting. The next number is "Human Nature",where the singer removed her clothes as mirrors were moved around the stage. A slow"Like a Virgin"closed the act; it was performed with a pianist who played" Evgeni's Waltz "fromW.Eand a shirtless dancer, who put a corset on Madonna and pulled the strings.

The "Nobody Knows Me"video interlude opened the final segment,Redemption;it morphed Madonna's face with a number of famous public figures. TheShaolin-themed "I'm Addicted" found Madonna in the Phillips-designed Joan of Arc outfit. The following number, "I'm a Sinner", featured Madonna on guitar wearing aLeiwhile the backdrops featured a train traveling through India; elements of her unreleased 2000 song "Cyber-Raga" were added to the performance. The final numbers were "Like a Prayer"and"Celebration";the former found the singer and dancers dressed in robes as images of churches and Hebrew writings flashed onscreen, while the latter had the troupe wearingBeats by Dreand mimickingDJmoves, with colored 3D cubes in the backdrops and laser lights illuminating the stage.

Critical reception

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Asia and Europe

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In his review of the opening night performance in Tel Aviv,The Jerusalem Post's Niv Elis described the show as an "assault on the senses", further writing: "Say what you will about theKabbalah-studying, gun-toting, fashionista of pop music – and everyone has something to say – but the woman knows how to put on a good show ".[36]FromThe National,Saeed Saeed praised the "visually dazzling" concert, but noted that, "while her previousSticky and Sweet toursaw her lightly poking fun at herself and her various musical guises [...] [MDNA] was at times brutally dark and suffocating and as much an emotional exorcism as a performance ".[53]Marie Louise-Olson, from the same publication, noted Madonna was "bursting with energy and looking fit as ever".[54]Peter E. Muller, from German newspaperBerliner Morgenpost,referred to the concert as an "elaborate stage spectacle of enigmatic force" and said that, "Madonna live in 2012 is still magical and unmatched".[55]Ingo Schmidt fromWDR 2applauded the "provocative and sexy" show, noting that the singer still "dominates even after 30 years on stage".[56]Neil McCormick fromThe Daily Telegraphclassified the MDNA Tour as "a typically sensationalist and schizophrenic Madonna production, mixing sex, ultra violence, religion, kitsch and politics to bizarre but entertaining effect".[57]From theBirmingham Mail,Kat Keogh wrote that "the pure theatre of [Madonna's] performance was enough to sustain the 11,000 strong audience".[58]Luis Hidalgo, on his review of theBarcelonaconcert for Spanish newspaperEl País,opined that, "Madonna shows her intelligence, femininity and elegance in a danceable and spectacular show".[59]According to Beverley Lyons from theDaily Record,the "remarkable" MDNA concert showed a "softer side to the Queen of Pop" and proved she was "still in Vogue with fans".[60]

Performances such as "Open Your Heart"(left) and "Express Yourself"(right) were singled out for praise by critics.

The performances were also praised; Schmidt highlighted the finale of "Like a Prayer" and "Celebration", the former for sounding "as thrillingly as in the original '89 video", and the latter for "taking advantage of the XXL dance floor". Nonetheless, he criticized the performance of "Like a Virgin" for being "difficult to recognize".[56]By contrast, Neil McCormick fromThe Daily Telegraphdeemed "Like a Virgin" the "real highlight" of the night.[58]Hidalgo singled out "Open Your Heart" and "Masterpiece", as both numbers featured Basque trio Kalakan.[59]FromThe Scotsman,Gary Flockhart praised the performance of "Express Yourself" for having "lightened" the mood after the openingTransgressionact; he also singled out "Open Your Heart", "Vogue", and "Like a Prayer", concluding that, although "it would have been great to hear a few more of the singer’s vintage hits [...] [she's] still a class act".[61]Elis singled out the rendition of "lukewarm single" "Give Me All Your Luvin'" as one of the show's "wow" moments; he also praised the mashup of "Candy Shop" and "Erotica",which he felt" showcase[d] Madonna at her visual best ".[36]

The staff fromBlickpointed out that, "[Madonna] offered a show that was rehearsed down to the last detail with little spontaneity".[62]On his review of the London concert, theEvening Standard's John Aizlewood criticized the lack of Madonna's classic songs; "disappointingly, she dipped into one of popular music's great back catalogues occasionally and begrudgingly", the author wrote.[63]Vogue Italia's Giulia Blasi qualified the show as "huge, spectacular, often slightly tacky, obviously expensive" and blamed "the poor quality of the sound for anyone not standing directly in front of the stage", noting "suspiciously pristine vocals in the middle of very choreography-heavy songs".[64]Simon Price writing forThe Independent,said that, "for a woman who sings – or mimes – about sex, she's always made it seem like cold, hard work, all Pilates and no passion", concluding that, "[MDNA] goes off with a whimper, not a bang".[65]For Natalie Shaw fromThe Arts Desk,"'The MDNA Tour' finds Madge disastrously sapping the joy out of even her most triumphant choruses".[66]More negative criticism came frommusicOMH's Michael Hubbard, who noted that, "the vocals are unremarkable at best and auto-tuned to oblivion at worst", calling it "a gig that lacked oomph throughout".[67]In their 2014 bookAgeing, Popular Culture and Contemporary Feminism: Harleys and Hormones,Imelda Whelehan and Joel Gwynne noted that there were "far more reviews of Madonna's MDNA tour than there are reviews of the other bands, and this global tour was often (inexplicably) reviewed in the UK press even when the actual performances took place much further afield".[68]

North America

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Rolling Stone's Colleen Nika deemed the concert "ambitious" and applauded Madonna for having "moved on from parading as a rock star", concluding that, "no one does provocative pop better, and no one, even now, looks cooler doing it".[69]Jon ParelesfromThe New York Timesfelt MDNA was a "display of energy and nutty inventiveness", adding that it's "less a story than an excellent excuse for extravagant, perpetually surprising production numbers [...] while it turns some of Madonna’s past hits inside out".[70]Glenn Gamboa fromNewsdaywrote that, "[Madonna's] latest reinvention might be her most revealing yet", because "her wild, nearly two-hour show is closest to reflecting her current state of mind, while building yet another artistic, well-choreographed slacklining spectacle".[71]Writing forThe Seattle Times,Sharon Pian Chanwrote that, "there is only one word to say after Madonna's extravaganza, spectacle and concert Tuesday night: Respect"; from the same publication, Andrew Matson described the show as "two hours of hits from a remarkable career, with high-budget sets and intricate choreography".[72][73]On his review of the show in Montreal, Marc-André Lemieux fromLe Journal de Montréalhailed the concert "sometimes dark, sometimes bright, but always entertaining and provocative".[74]Mark Segal Kemp fromCreative Loafingopined that, "'The MDNA Tour' is not a concert – it's a theater event, complete with concepts and routines that range from well-thought-out to somewhat abstruse".[75]For Aidin Vaziri from theSan Francisco Chronicle,it was a "masterfully produced and all-around beautiful concert".[76]The concerts inMedellínwere deemed "historic" and "unprecedented" by Colombian press.[77]

The performance of "I Don't Give A"(left) was one of several that "ignited outbursts of dancing and big sing-along", according to Timothy Finn fromThe Kansas City Star.[78]On another note, Caryn Ganz fromSpinpointed out that during "Like a Prayer"(right), "the entire stadium gave up and gave in".[79]

FromLas Vegas Review-Journal,Jason Bracelin noted that, "fresh off a bitter divorce, with a new album that's among her most unguarded, [Madonna] has seldom seemed so human or humane"; Bracelin also highlighted "the way in which Madonna continually reconfigured past hits into something new".[80]The "professional rivalry" exhibited when Madonna incorporated Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" on "Express Yourself" was singled out by Jon Pareles.[70]The inclusion ofMDNAtracks received a mixed reception. For Ross Raihala from theSt. Paul Pioneer Press,the "major complaint" were the album cuts, some of which don't "stand up to her big hits", also critiquing the "not-always-successful arrangements" of Madonna's old songs.[81]By contrast, Segal Kemp expressed that, "if you come to a Madonna show expecting just hits, you'll be as disappointed as a casualBob Dylanfan who expects his concerts to include faithful versions of 'Blowin' in the Wind' or 'Mr. Tambourine Man' [...] her non-hit material is every bit as adventurous and challenging as any of her hits. More so, in many cases ".[75]Similarly, Lemieux applauded Madonna for "thinking outside the box", praising the performances of "I Don't Give A" and "Turn Up the Radio", which he felt were given an "extra punch" through the electric guitar.[74]Ben Crandell, from theSun-Sentinel,highlighted "Express Yourself", "Open Your Heart", the "stylish" "Vogue", and "Like a Virgin".[82]

Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani considered the third segment,Masculine/Feminine,to be the show's "creative climax", but criticized the shortened "Papa Don't Preach" and the rendition of "Hung Up".[52]Vaziri declared that, "the spectacle was great, but the set list was terrible".[76]Despite naming it "brilliantly choreographed and impeccably executed",Spin's Carolyn Ganz considered MDNA to be the singer's "least coherent" concert since 2001'sDrowned World Tour.[79]On the same vein, Bracelin wrote that, "there was so much going on, both in song and onstage, that the show felt a little muddled in places, like someone trying to force together pieces of a puzzle that don't fit".[80]A negative review came fromThe Mercury News'Jim Harrington: "The set list was weak. The new songs were forgettable. The old favorites were dressed up in different arrangements, most of which were awful. And the theatrics — such a big part of a Madonna concert — ranged from dreadful to dull".[83]On 2015, MDNA was named Madonna's seventh best concert tour by bothThe Advocate's Gina Vivinetto andVH1's Christopher Rosa; the latter wrote: "[Madonna] spared no expense to let us know she was angry. [...] After the original shock of 'WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!' wears off, the MDNA Tour is actually a very solid concert that harkens to Madonna's earlier themes of sex, religion and playing the shock factor for all its worth".[84][85]In 2024, Sal Cinquemani, writing forBillboard,named it Madonna's fourth best concert tour: "Coming on the heels of [her] iconic halftime performance at Super Bowl XLVI, the maximalist MDNA Tour was one of her most ambitious [...] and most intense shows".[86]

Commercial reception

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Tickets for the MDNA Tour went on sale following the singer's appearance at the Super Bowl.[87]Members of Icon, Madonna's officialfan club,received first access to tickets and VIP Packages. They were also given access to a tour devoted forum and exclusive merchandise.[7]US prices ranged from $45 to more than $350, with some premium packages costing about $600.[14]This received some criticism, to which the singer replied: "people spend $300 on crazy things all the time, things like handbags. So work all year, scrape the money together, and come to my show. I'm worth it".[88]According toDigital Spy'sZeba Blay,shows had sold out "in seconds" in places such asIstanbul,Montreal,Ottawa,Saint Paul,Houston,Dallas,Phoenix,andLos Angeles.[89]On April 19,Billboardreported than more than 1.4 million tickets had already been sold, grossing about $214 million; Live Nation's Arthur Fogel said MDNA was "completely on track to end up in the top 10 tours of all time".[90]Madonna's first ever show inAbu Dhabihad fans lined up in front of theVirgin Megastoresince 7 a.m. (GST), according to local newspaperThe National;[91]all 22,000 tickets were sold out within hours of their launch, prompting organizers to add a second date.[92][93]50,000 in Istanbul sold out in just four days.[94]German news agencyDeutsche Presse-Agenturreported that entrances for both shows inBerlinhad sold out only in few hours after going on sale.[95]Tickets for the firstAmsterdamconcert were sold out in just thirty minutes.[96]

Upon completion, the MDNA Tour grossed $305.2 million from 88 sold-out shows, becoming thetenth highest-grossing tour of all time;in the image, Madonna performs "I'm Addicted" during the concert's final act,Redemption.

The MDNA Tour was commercially successful in the United States as well. 60,000 tickets for the first concert atNew York's Yankee Stadium were reported to have sold out in just 20 minutes, leading to a second date.[97]Tickets for the concert inKansas City,around 14,000, sold out in 12 minutes;[98]inHouston,entrances sold out in less than an hour, which caused a second date to be added.[99]InMontreal,16,000 tickets were sold in 20 minutes; the single concert at Quebec's Plains of Abraham sold 65,000 tickets in just an hour.[100]Madonna sold out 15,000 tickets for the show in Ottawa'sScotiabank Palacein 21 minutes, becoming the fastest-selling concert in the arena's 16-year history and breaking a record previously held byAC/DC.[101]The "most expensive" tickets for the first concert inMexico Citysold out within two hours and fifteen minutes during the pre-sales;[102]6,500 tickets were sold at a record-breaking five minutes during the pre-sale for the second Mexican concert.[103]According toRCN Radio,there was a "massive demand" for tickets for the singer's first concert in Medellín;[104]38,000 entrances quickly sold out during the pre-sale, while the remaining 2,000 tickets ran out in three hours.[105][106]More than 100,000 ticket sold out within two days in Brazil.[107]Digital Spythen reported that MDNA had outsold Lady Gaga'sBorn This Way Ballin South America despite tickets for the former being three times as expensive as those for the latter.[108]

After completion, MDNA became thetenth highest-grossing tour of all time,grossing $305.2 million from 88 sold-out shows;[109]it also became the second highest-grossing for a female artist behind Madonna's own Sticky & Sweet Tour.[110]Billboardnamed it the most lucrative tour of 2012, making it Madonna's third time closing a year at the top of the box office heap, the others being 2009 and2004.The artist also joinedthe Rolling Stones,theGrateful DeadandBon Jovias the only acts to beBillboard's highest-grossing tour twice in a three-year span.[109]Madonna was awarded Top Touring Artist at the2013BillboardMusic Awards.[111]

Controversies

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Political

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Dancers slacklining during the video performance of "Nobody Knows Me";the video caused controversy in France, as it compared politicianMarine Le PentoAdolf Hitler.

The video interlude of the song "Nobody Knows Me" received strong criticism from the Frenchfar right,as it showed politicianMarine Le Penwith aswastikasuperimposedon her forehead, before her face morphed into that ofAdolf Hitler.[47]Le Pen responded by accusing the singer of stealing ―and later buying― her adopted African children; she then referred to Madonna as an "aging singer" who "need[s] publicity go to such extremes" because "her songs don't work anymore".[47]Le Pen also threatened to sue the singer if she kept the video unchanged for the Paris and Nice stops of the tour. "If she does that in France, we'll be waiting for her", she toldLe Parisien.[112]During the Paris concert, on July 14, the video performance remained unaltered, prompting theNational Frontto sue the singer for "public insult".Florian Philippot,then-Vice President of the National Front, considered it a "very serious insult", accusing Madonna of "trying to get more people to her concerts", whileNajat Vallaud-Belkacem,from theSocialist Party,found the incident "regrettable".[113]Jean-Marie Le Penrecommended his daughter "ask Madame Madonna — and everyone who organized her international show — for $1 million".[114]French anti-racism groupSOS Racisme,however, expressed their support for the singer, calling the video a "resolutely anti-racist and feminist" statement.[114]Madonna attempted to quell the controversy, saying that she wasn't trying "to make enemies" but to "promote tolerance".[115]According toThe Hollywood Reporter,the controversy affected ticket sales in France, with 4,400 tickets for the Nice show being given away for free.[116]During the concert in Nice, the swastika from the video was removed and replaced with a question mark; this was applauded by Gael Nofri, spokesperson for Le Pen, who expressed that, "to my knowledge, Madonna has never changed a video before [...] It's proof that our arguments won out. It's excellent news".[115]

During theWashington, D.C.concert, Madonna openly supported there-electionof then-presidentBarack Obama,whom she referred to as a "black Muslim". The singer later clarified her comments, saying that she was being ironic; "yes, I know Obama is not a Muslim – though I know that plenty of people in this country think he is. And what if he were?".[117]InLouisiana(a state with substantial populations of both liberals and conservatives), Madonna was simultaneously cheered andbooedby the audience for expressing her support for Obama; she tried to rectify the situation by saying: "I don't care who you vote for. Do not take this great privilege for granted".[118]In her Los Angeles show, Madonna dedicated the song "Human Nature"toMalala Yousafzai,the then-14-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot by members of theTalibanfor speaking-out on her right to have an education, explaining "this made me cry. The 14-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot on a school bus for writing a blog [...] Do you understand the sickness and absurdity of this? [...] Support education! Support the people who support women!" Later on, she revealed the word "Malala" painted on her back. News of this spread toPakistan,where some took toTwitterto voice their disapproval of Madonna's gesture.[119]

Firearms and nudity

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Numbers such as "Gang Bang"(left) and "Human Nature"(right) were met with backlash due to the involvement of firearms and nudity, respectively.

The use offirearmsin the performances of "Revolver" and "Gang Bang" was met with backlash. In Scotland, Madonna defied alocal banthat prevented her from brandishing fake weaponry on stage; the warnings came just 36 hours before theColorado theater shooting.[120]While on the concert, the singer joked about the ban and told the audience: "due to your laws here they might pull the plug on me so if they cut us off suddenly, write to your local MP". A spokesman for Mothers Against Guns felt the performances were "in bad taste, but given what happened in Colorado it is even worse. She should know better".[120]The use of weaponry did not go unnoticed in the Denver concert;Mile High Sportspersonality Peter Burns said he was "taken aback" by the use of guns; "you could see people kinda looking at each other [...] I heard the word 'Colorado' you know, 'Aurora', 'Shooting' [...] [it was] a little bit unsettling. I saw two or three people get up and grab their stuff and actually leave their seats". Liz Rosenberg told theHuffPostthat, "[Madonna] would rather cancel her show than censor her art. Her entire career, she has fought against people telling her what she can and cannot do. She's not about to start listening to them now".[121]Madonna commented on the controversy in an interview forGood Morning America,saying that she would not alter the performances, adding: "that would be like asking people to not have guns in action movies... I mean, the thing is, guns don't kill people, people kill people. That whole first section of the show is like an action movie, and I was playing a super-vixen who wanted revenge".[122]She further added in a letter toBillboard:

"I do not condone violence or the use of guns [...] they are symbols of wanting to appear strong and wanting to find a way to stop feelings that I find hurtful or damaging. In my case I want to stop the lies and hypocrisy of the church, the intolerance of many narrow minded cultures and societies I have experienced throughout my life and in some cases the pain I have felt from having my heart broken".[19]

Despite the controversy, critical reception towards this segment was mixed; Neil McCormick considered it "quite unpleasantly aggressive", but noted that, "its hard to deny that aggression suits [Madonna]";[57]for Gary Flockhart, it was "exhilarating to watch, if in bad taste".[61]Andrew Matson opined that the act's violence was "so over the top, it overshadowed the rest of the show".[73]Mark Segal Kemp said it was one of the moments that saw a few audience members get up from their seats and leave the venue; similarly, Ross Raihala wrote that, "darkness hung over much of the first half of the show".[75][81]Marc-André Lemieux gave a positive review, and said that, "the aggressiveness [shown by Madonna] was nothing wrong. On the contrary. We felt that she was invested, passionate and even possessed".[74]

The "Human Nature" number was also met with controversy, as it had the singer doing astriptease.[70]While performing in Turkey, the singer briefly pulled down her bra and briefly flashed her nipple;[123]in Rome, shemoonedthe audience.[124]Andy Cohensaid the singer's bare breasts were "old news";[125]writing forIndia Today,Deepti Jakhar felt Madonna came across "a bit desperate to regain her controversial stage presence", and compared the antic toJanet Jackson's2004 Super Bowl incident.[126]Of the singer flashing herself in Rome,Entertainment Weekly's Annie Barrett questioned her authenticity and said it was "as fake asHouse Hunters".[124]BuzzFeed's Amy Odell defended the singer in an article titled "Leave Madonna's 53-year-old breast alone"; "apparently now when that inevitable thing called aging happens, [women] have to worry about covering up enough so that we don't look 'desperate' [...] Heavens! Women who are 53 still have breasts and... sex drives!", Odell wrote.[127]

Paris's Olympia concert

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Madonna performing amashupof "Die Another Day"(2002) and" Beautiful Killer "on July 17 atParis'sOlympia;this concert was widely criticized by fans due to its short length.

On July 17, it was announced the singer would do an "intimate one night only performance" atParis'sOlympiahall, on Thursday July 26.[128]It was described as Madonna's way "to honor her love for French artists, French cinema and a tribute to France’s long history of welcoming and inspiring artists". Tickets for the concert were first allotted to members of her official fan club on July 18, and three days later, were put on sale for the general public; entrances were limited to two per person.[128]Due to an "overwhelming demand for tickets", the show wasstreamedlive through LoveLive's YouTube channel; Toby L, creative director of LoveLive commented: "We are beyond elated to be hosting a global stream of one of the world's most iconic artists in such a unique and intimate circumstance [...] This performance typifies what we're doing with the LoveLive music series, which will continue to feature the world's most recognizable music artists".[129]Songs performed on this date included amashupof Madonna's 2002 single "Die Another Day"andMDNAalbum track "Beautiful Killer", as well as a cover ofSerge Gainsbourg's "Je t'aime... moi non plus"(1969).[130]

The concert was critically panned by fans and attendees, many of whom had allegedly paid more than280 or had slept on the street overnight to be able to purchase tickets, with most of the criticism centering on the fact that the set only lasted 45 minutes.[131][132]After the show was over and the singer left the stage, people startedbooingand yelling insults likesalope,the French word for "slut";[131]a crowd then gathered in the streets in front of the venue demanding arefund.Fans also took tosocial mediato express their disappointment;[131]the video of the concert uploaded to YouTube had received more than 12,000 dislikes by the next day.[132]The singer's political talk was also criticized.[133]Following the backlash, publicist Liz Rosenberg issued a statement saying that, "[the show] was not billed as her fullMDNAconcert and tremendous effort was made to keep the ticket prices reasonable [...] [it] cost Madonna close to a million dollars to produce. She has done a handful of club dates in the past and they were never more than 45 minutes ".[134]The singer herself addressed the controversy:

"Playing the Olympia was a magical moment for me and it was real treat to do this special show for my fans and be so close to them. Unfortunately at the end of the show – after I left the stage – a few thugs who were not my fans rushed the stage and started throwing plastic bottles pretending to be angry fans. The press reports have focused on this and not the joyous aspect of the evening. But nothing can take away or ruin this very special evening for me and my fans. When I looked out in the audience, everyone I saw had a smile on their face. I look forward to having this wonderful experience again".[135]

Pussy Riot and LGBT rights in Russia

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I know there are many sides to every story, and I mean no disrespect to the church or the government. But I think that these three girls —Masha,Katya,Nadya— I think that they have done something courageous. I think they have paid the price for this act. And I pray for their freedom.[136]

—Madonna's speech inMoscowregarding the arrest ofPussy Riot

Madonna's Russian concerts were met with great controversy; when asked her stance on the arrest of feminist punk-rock bandPussy Riot,she responded: "I'm against censorship, and my whole career I've always promoted freedom of expression andfreedom of speechso I think what's happening to them is unfair. And I hope that they don't have to serve 7 years in jail [...] I think art should be political, that art, historically speaking, always reflects what's going on socially ".[137]During the concert in Moscow, the singer donned the trademarkbalaclavaworn by the members of the band and stripped down to a black bra, revealing the band's name written across her back.[138]Afterward, other artists followed Madonna's steps and expressed support for the band, among themPaul McCartneyandPeter Gabriel.[139]Pussy Riot themselves tweeted: "DEAR MADONNA! We love you and you just might be changing Russia's history right now. Thank you and a thousand prayers in return!".[140]Deputy Prime MinisterDmitry Rogozin,however, wrote an expletive-ridden Twitter post lambasting the singer for backing the band.[141]On August 17, the members of Pussy Riot were found guilty ofhooliganismand sentenced to two years in prison,[142]to which Madonna posted on her website: "I protest the conviction and sentencing of Pussy Riot to a penal colony for two years for a 40 second performance extolling their political opinions [...] I call on all those who love freedom to condemn this unjust punishment. I urge artists around the world to speak up in protest against this travesty. [...] I call on ALL of Russia to let Pussy Riot go free".[143]

The second date inSaint Petersburgwas consequently met with terrorist threats, prompting theU.S. Embassyto issue a warning to those in attendance; Madonna's spokesperson Liz Rosenberg responded that the concert would go on as scheduled and that Russian authorities would step up security.[144]On her officialFacebookpage, Madonna had previously posted that she planned to address Russia's so-calledanti-gay law.[145]Before the concert, attendees were given pink wristbands to show support for theLGBT community.[146]During the show, the singer delivered a speech between the performances of "Open Your Heart" and "Masterpiece"; she praised democracy, love, and freedom and compared the LGBT community's struggles toMartin Luther King Jr.'s fights for equality.[147]Russian gay rights organization Coming Out distributed rainbow posters and, at certain point, the troupe wavedrainbow flagsonstage.[147]On August 17, it was announced that anti-gay Russian activists would sue Madonna for $10.4 million, arguing that she was promoting "homosexual propaganda",and had" insulted their feelings when she spoke out for gay rights "at the concert.[148]According to one of the ten activists, "[Madonna] had been warned with words that she should behave in line with the law and she ignored it. So we will speak in the language of money"; another one felt that "after Madonna's concert maybe some boy becomes gay, some girl becomes lesbian, fewer children are born as a result and this big country cannot defend its borders".[148]In November 2012, the claims were fully rejected;[149]three years later, it was reported that Madonna had toldEntertainment Weeklythat she would most likely never visit Russia again because ofits stands on gay rights.[150]In July 2020, eight years after the incident, Madonna revealed that she was given a $1 million fine by theRussian government,which she never paid.[151]

Broadcasts and recording

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The final performance of the night, "Celebration",with the singer and dancers mimickingDJmoves.

On May 25, theAlgemeiner Journalreported thatConan O'Brienwould fly to Israel to host hislate-night talk showas part of an exclusive deal to broadcast a special covering the tour's opening night.[152]The aired segment featured comedianBilly Eichnerasking passers-by from New York and Israel questions aboutIran's nuclear crisis,theUnited States's relations with Israel,and whether or not they were attending the concert.[153]On October, a special segment aired on theConantalk show; Eichner had the opportunity to meet the singer while she was rehearsing for her Yankee Stadium show in September.[154]Shot in Rome,Inside The DNA of MDNAwas a 7-minute behind the scenes video posted on Madonna's official YouTube channel on July 9, 2012.[155]The July 26 concert at Paris'L'Olympia was streamed live through LoveLive's YouTube channel.[129]

On November 9, 2012, Madonna confirmed that the tour's official DVD would be shot at the 19—20 shows atMiami'sAmerican Airlines Arena;[156]initially, she wanted to film the shows inColombia,but due to conflicts with the directors' schedule, those shows were not filmed.[157]Directed by Danny B. Tull and Stephane Sennour,Madonna: The MDNA Tourhad a special world premiere screening on June 18 at New York'sParis Theater,with Madonna herself attending the event;[158][159]four days later, it aired throughEPIX.[160]MDNA World Tourwas released on September 10, 2013, in all formats: double-disclive album,DVD,andBlu-ray.[161]It received generally mixed reviews from critics, some praised the technicality and the visuals attached with the show, while others noted the absence of Madonna's hit songs;[162][163]MDNA World Tourbecame the singer's sixth consecutive and tenth video to topBillboard'sTop Music Videoschart.[164]

Set list

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Set list, samples and notes adapted per Madonna's official website, the notes and track listing ofMDNA World Tour,and additional sources.[165][166][29]

Act 1:Transgression

  1. "Virgin Mary"(Introduction; contains elements of "Psalm 91"and"Birjina Gaztetto Bat Zegoen")
  2. "Girl Gone Wild"(Contains elements of "Material Girl"and"Give It 2 Me")
  3. "Revolver"
  4. "Gang Bang"
  5. "Papa Don't Preach"
  6. "Hung Up"(Contains elements of "Girl Gone Wild" and "Sorry")
  7. "I Don't Give A"
  8. "Best Friend" / "Heartbeat"(Video interlude)

Act 2:Prophecy

  1. "Express Yourself"(Contains excerpts from "Born This Way"and" She's Not Me ")
  2. "Give Me All Your Luvin'"(Just BlazeRemix)
  3. "Radio Dial Static Medley"(Video interlude; contains elements of "Holiday","Into the Groove","Lucky Star","Like a Virgin","4 Minutes","Ray of Light",and"Music")
  4. "Turn Up the Radio"
  5. "Open Your Heart"/" Sagarra Jo! "
  6. "Masterpiece"

Act 3:Masculine/Feminine

  1. "Justify My Love"(William OrbitRemix; video interlude)
  2. "Vogue"
  3. "Candy Shop"(Contains elements of "Ashamed of Myself"and excerpts from"Erotica")
  4. "Human Nature"
  5. "Like a Virgin"(Contains elements of "Evgeni's Waltz" )

Act 4:Redemption

  1. "Nobody Knows Me"(Remix; video interlude)
  2. "I'm Addicted"
  3. "I'm a Sinner"(Contains elements from "Cyber-Raga" )
  4. "Like a Prayer"(Contains elements of "De Treville-n Azken Hitzak" )
  5. "Celebration"(Contains elements of "Girl Gone Wild" and "Give It 2 Me" )

Notes

Shows

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List of Asian and European concerts[31][172]
Date
(2012)
City Country Venue Opening act Attendance
(Tickets sold / available)
Revenue
May 31[b] Ramat Gan Israel Ramat Gan Stadium Martin Solveig 33,457 / 33,457 $4,339,876
June 3 Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates du Arena Benny Benassi 45,722 / 45,722 $8,053,500
June 4
June 7 Istanbul Turkey Nef Stadium Offer Nissim 47,789 / 47,789 $6,219,598
June 12 Rome Italy Stadio Olimpico Martin Solveig 36,658 / 36,658 $2,835,542
June 14 Milan Stadio Giuseppe Meazza 53,244 / 53,244 $5,624,570
June 16 Florence Stadio Artemio Franchi 42,434 / 42,434 $4,252,680
June 20 Barcelona Spain Palau Sant Jordi 33,178 / 33,178 $3,893,274
June 21
June 24 Coimbra Portugal Estádio Cidade de Coimbra 33,597 / 33,597 $3,156,022
June 28 Berlin Germany O2World 25,481 / 25,481 $3,679,378
June 30
July 2 Copenhagen Denmark Parken Stadium 29,416 / 29,416 $2,980,465
July 4 Gothenburg Sweden Ullevi Stadium 36,472 / 36,472 $4,510,807
July 7 Amsterdam Netherlands Ziggo Dome 29,172 / 29,172 $3,777,245
July 8
July 10 Cologne Germany Lanxess Arena 14,489 / 14,489 $1,775,841
July 12 Brussels Belgium King Baudouin Stadium 36,778 / 36,778 $3,676,447
July 14 Paris France Stade de France 62,195 / 62,195 $7,195,799
July 17 London England Hyde Park LMFAO 54,140 / 54,140 $6,714,027
July 19 Birmingham National Indoor Arena Alesso 11,684 / 11,684 $1,998,196
July 21 Edinburgh Scotland Murrayfield Stadium 52,160 / 52,160 $4,974,731
July 24 Dublin Ireland Aviva Stadium 33,953 / 33,953 $3,175,497
July 26 Paris France L'Olympia 2,576 / 2,576 $346,653
July 29 Vienna Austria Ernst-Happel-Stadion Martin Solveig 33,250 / 33,250 $1,953,791
August 1 Warsaw Poland Stadion Narodowy Paul Oakenfold 38,699 / 38,699 $2,933,410
August 4 Kyiv Ukraine Olympic Stadium Sebastian Ingrosso 31,022 / 31,022 $4,893,317
August 7 Moscow Russia Olimpiyskiy Alesso 19,842 / 19,842 $4,074,400
August 9 Saint Petersburg SKK Peterburgsky 19,079 / 19,079 $2,683,569
August 12 Helsinki Finland Helsinki Olympic Stadium Martin Solveig 42,760 / 42,760 $5,589,900
August 15 Oslo Norway Telenor Arena CLMD 18,631 / 18,631 $3,017,871
August 18 Zürich Switzerland Letzigrund Martin Solveig 37,792 / 37,792 $4,989,192
August 21 Nice France Stade Charles-Ehrmann LMFAO 29,670 / 29,670 $2,386,311
List of North American concerts[31][174][175]
Date
(2012)
City Country Venue Opening act Attendance
(Tickets sold / available)
Revenue
August 28 Philadelphia United States Wells Fargo Center Laidback Luke 15,741 / 15,741 $2,651,855
August 30 Montreal Canada Bell Centre Martin Solveig 16,918 / 16,918 $3,457,482
September 1 Quebec City Plains of Abraham Paul Oakenfold 70,569 / 70,569 $8,098,292
September 4 Boston United States TD Garden 13,995 / 13,995 $2,450,720
September 6 New York City Yankee Stadium Avicii 79,775 / 79,775 $12,599,540
September 8
September 10 Ottawa Canada Scotiabank Place Paul Oakenfold 14,422 / 14,422 $2,371,994
September 12 Toronto Air Canada Centre 32,557 / 32,557 $7,458,188
September 13
September 15 Atlantic City United States Boardwalk Hall 12,207 / 12,207 $2,891,340
September 19 Chicago United Center 28,143 / 28,143 $5,102,880
September 20
September 23 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center Benny Benassi 27,944 / 27,944 $4,860,428
September 24
September 29 Vancouver Canada Rogers Arena Martin Solveig 28,500 / 28,500 $4,758,994
September 30
October 2 Seattle United States KeyArena 23,651 / 23,651 $3,723,405
October 3
October 6 San Jose HP Pavilion Martin Solveig
MiSha Skye
25,907 / 25,907 $4,791,285
October 7
October 10 Los Angeles Staples Center Martin Solveig 29,015 / 29,015 $6,162,835
October 11
October 13 Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena 24,991 / 24,991 $7,188,879
October 14
October 16 Phoenix US Airways Center MiSha Skye 13,239 / 13,239 $2,389,060
October 18 Denver Pepsi Center 13,280 / 13,280 $2,135,835
October 21 Dallas American Airlines Center Benny Benassi 14,360 / 14,360 $2,329,690
October 24 Houston Toyota Center Martin Solveig 24,797 / 24,797 $4,390,355
October 25
October 27 New Orleans New Orleans Arena Paul Oakenfold 14,498 / 14,498 $2,261,515
October 30 Kansas City Sprint Center 14,108 / 14,108 $2,366,220
November 1 St. Louis Scottrade Center 16,022 / 16,022 $2,449,110
November 3 Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center 26,084 / 26,084 $4,229,005
November 4
November 6 Pittsburgh Consol Energy Center 14,120 / 14,120 $2,358,670
November 8 Detroit Joe Louis Arena 13,716 / 13,716 $1,833,154
November 10 Cleveland Quicken Loans Arena 16,487 / 16,487 $2,546,780
November 12 New York City Madison Square Garden Martin Solveig 24,790 / 24,790 $4,846,665
November 13
November 15 Charlotte Time Warner Cable Arena 13,817 / 13,817 $2,208,180
November 17 Atlanta Philips Arena Paul Oakenfold 13,504 / 13,504 $2,379,792
November 19 Miami American Airlines Arena 27,976 / 27,976 $5,241,125
November 20
November 24 Mexico City Mexico Foro Sol 84,382 / 84,382 $11,586,745
November 25
List of South American concerts[31][175][176]
Date
(2012)
City Country Venue Opening act Attendance
(Tickets sold / available)
Revenue
November 28 Medellín Colombia Estadio Atanasio Girardot Paul Oakenfold 90,018 / 90,018 $14,741,104
November 29
December 2[c] Rio de Janeiro Brazil Parque dos Atletas Felguk 34,709 / 34,709 $4,332,428
December 4 São Paulo Estádio do Morumbi Gui Boratto 85,255 / 85,255 $8,430,677
December 5
December 9 Porto Alegre Estádio Olímpico Monumental Fabrício Peçanha 42,524 / 42,524 $7,578,191
December 13 Buenos Aires Argentina River Plate Stadium Laidback Luke 89,226 / 89,226 $10,820,041
December 15
December 19 Santiago Chile Estadio Nacional 47,625 / 47,625 $3,867,601
December 22 Córdoba Argentina Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes 48,133 / 48,133 $5,566,393
Total 2,212,345 / 2,212,345
(100%)
$305,158,362

Cancelled dates

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List of cancelled concerts[178][179]
Date
(2012)
City Country Venue Reason
June 11 Zagreb Croatia Stadion Maksimir Scheduling conflicts
October 20 Dallas United States American Airlines Center Laryngitis

Notes

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  1. ^US$405.05 million in 2023 dollars.[1]
  2. ^This concert was declared by Madonna as a "Concert for Peace", inviting several peace organizations to honor and acknowledge people seeking peace in the Middle East.[173]The concert was merged with the one set to take place two days earlier, on May 29, due to production delays, and tickets dated May 29 were honored at the rescheduled May 31 event.[30]
  3. ^This concert was set to take place one day earlier, on December 1, but was rescheduled due to scheduling conflicts.[177]

Personnel

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Adapted fromThe MDNA Tourprogram.[22]

Band
  • Madonna – creator, vocals, guitar
  • Kiley Dean– vocals
  • Nicki Richards– vocals
  • Kevin Antunes – musical director, keyboards, programmer
  • Brian Frasier-Moore – drums
  • Ric'key Pageot – piano, keyboards
  • Monte Pittman– guitar
  • Jason Yang – violin
  • Sean Spuehler – vocalmixing engineer
Dancers
  • Adrien Galo – dancer
  • Ali "Lilou" Ramdani– dancer
  • Brahim Zaibat– dancer
  • Chaz Buzan – dancer
  • Derrell Bullock – dancer
  • Drew Dollaz – dancer
  • Emilie Capel – dancer
  • Emilie Schram – dancer
  • Habby "Hobgoblin" Jacques – dancer
  • Kupono Aweau – dancer
  • Charles "Lil Buck" Riley– dancer
  • Loic "Speedylegz" Mabanza – dancer
  • Lourdes "Lola" Leon – dancer
  • Marion Molin – dancer
  • Marvin Gofin – dancer
  • Rocco Ritchie – dancer
  • Sasha Mallery – dancer
  • Sheik Mondesir – dancer
  • Stephanie Nguyen– dancer
  • Valeree Pohl – dancer
  • Vibez Henderson – dancer
  • Yaman "Yamsonite" Okur – dancer
  • Hayden Nickell –slackliner
  • Jaan Roose – slackliner
Choreographers
  • Alison Faulk – supervising choreographer
  • Jason Young – supervising choreographer
  • Megan Lawson – choreographer
  • Derrell Bullock – choreographer
  • Marvin & Marion – choreographers
  • Swoop & Goofy – choreopgraphers
  • Ali "Lilou" Ramdani – choreographer
  • Kalakan Trio– choreographers
  • Leesa Csolak –batoncoach
  • Damon Grant –drumcoach
  • Josh Greenwood – slackline coach,Shaolin master
Wardrobe
  • Arianne Phillips– designer
  • Jean Paul Gaultier– designer
  • Alexander Wang– designer
  • Jeremy Scott– designer
  • Linda Matthews – costume supervisor
  • Laura Morgan – assistant costume designer
  • Terry Anderson – assistant costume designer
  • Molly Rebuschatis – assistant to Arianne Phillips
  • Phil Boutte – illustrator
  • Natasha Paczkowski – cutter fitter
  • Crystal Thompson – cutter fitter
  • Graeme Kalbe –shopper
  • Kareem James – shopper
  • Jocelyn Goldstein – shopper
  • Nicki Moody – shopper
  • Marley Glassroth – shopper
  • Seana Gordon – shopper
  • Brianna Patterson – costume coordinator
  • Willie Leon – costume production assistant
  • Alexis Hilferte Forte – costume production assistant
Participating designers
Show
  • Jamie King –creative director
  • Tiffany Olson – creative director assistant
  • Michel Laprise – show director
  • Richmond Talauega – co-director
  • Anthony Talauega – co-director
  • Mark Fisher– show architect
Crew
  • Tony Villaneuva – Madonna's dresser
  • Lana Czajka – head wardrobe
  • Lisa Nishimura – wardrobe
  • Renee Sola – wardrobe
  • Julie Sola – wardrobe
  • Pam Lewis – wardrobe
  • Krystie Rodriguez – wardrobe
  • Deb Cooper – wardrobe
Staff
  • Tres Thomas – tour director
  • Frankie Enfield – artist tour manager
  • Jason Milner – tour manager
  • Cynthia Oknaian – ticketing manager
  • Jill McCutchan – assistant tour manager
  • Gingi Levin – assistant artist tour manager
  • Rafael Pagan – tour management assistant
  • Robert “Bongo” Longo - Head Backline: Kevin Antunes Tech
  • Andy LeCompte – key hair stylist for Madonna
  • Gina Brooke – key make-up artist for Madonna
  • Jean-Michel Ete –kinesitherapeute
  • Courtney Rousso – hotel advance
  • Jerry Meltzer – security
  • Didier Meert – security
  • Huge Rodriguez – family security
  • Marco Pernini – artist chef
  • Mayumi Niimi – artist chef
  • Michelle Peck –aesthetician,masseuse
  • Nicole Winhoffer –personal trainer
  • Suzanne Lynch –physical therapist
  • Abel Meza – artist driver

See also

edit

References

edit
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