From the day that Madonna’s concert was announced in January, she became an ever-popular theme in the media. A week before her August 29 show, the lack of any major news stories made Madonna a constant feature in conversations and online forums.

Some people simply disliked Madonna’s music and style. Others considered her too commercially driven, a product of MTV culture, and an insubstantial figure. Some mocked those who rushed to buy tickets for what the former considered a fine specimen of mass culture. A few intellectuals even suggested that most people would go to the concert only for appearances’ sake, to be able to brag about it afterwards.

The question "are you going to the Madonna concert?" became a test for where one stands – part of the flow or one of the proud believers in true art. Others said that they were going to the concert only because their friends bought tickets for them - as if this was a reasonable excuse.     

On the other side of the line were die-hard Madonna fans and those who simply wanted to see a show by a popular artist who had come to perform in their backyard.

On August 29, all these groups met at a packed Vassil Levski stadium. Despite all the anti-Madonna talk, she managed to get almost 60 000 people to pay an average of 100 leva each, suggesting that few could resist the temptation of attending even if it was simply out of curiosity to see how she would perform before a live audience.  

The saying "people of all ages" has never had a better meaning in Bulgaria. Given Madonna’s many years spent in the  spotlight the age of the people who know her music (but who are not exactly die-hard fans) varies from little children to people in their 60s. Hardly any other world-famous entertainer can match this and bring married couples and their grandchildren to a venue.

And this is what happened on August 29 in Sofia. And because of this variety of ages and people, the atmosphere at the stadium resounded with positive energy. For an hour before the start of the warming session, people entertained themselves by making repeated Mexican waves and cheering each other on. Some even sung the national anthem while others drank beer.

Even the hour-long break between DJ Paul Oakenfold’s warming up session and Madonna’s appearance did not detract from the joy. Just as the problems some people had entering the venue vanished once she appeared in her full glory, giving everybody what they were looking for.

Those who had come to dance and sing her songs got exactly that. Aficionados of stage effects and 3D animation were not disappointed either (although some might argue that the stage of the 2007 George Michael concert was better then Madonna’s). Those looking for flaws in Madonna’s live singing were also rewarded because there were occasions when she struggled to find the right note.

Fans of her classic hits from the 1980s and 1990s were probably a bit disappointed with the remix versions she presented. In terms of emotions and attitude, however, Madonna paid full respect to the 60 000 people cramming the stadium.

Unlike others representatives of showbusiness elite, Madonna did not hide behind the image of the untouchable star and actively interacted with the audience, summoning Sofia and Bulgaria several times to join her in the fun.

At the end of the gig she got down to the first rows and some of the people there got the chance to sing alongside her which, according to some media, was unprecedented on her world tour.

For an hour and 50 minutes she sang, danced and cavorted as did the audience. Naturally, people expected Madonna’s tribute to Michael Jackson and when it came (even for a few minutes) it was more than appreciated. As was the gypsy band that performed an interesting version of La Isla Bonita (and no, she did not say anything on being nice to the Roma).

At the end of the day the question had changed from "are you going to see Madonna?" to "have you been to Madonna?", which lends some credence to organisers’ statement that her concert had changed the way showbusiness is being conducted in Bulgaria.