One of the first reviews of the first “Confessions Tour” night in Hartford comes from the Republican American.

The “discofied” cross that drew some religious groups’ ire dazzled. The dominatrix-like act on a saddle elicited hoots. And the petite, toned woman at the center of it all commanded of thousands before her: Look at me.

Madonna’s “Confessions” tour hit Hartford’s sweltering Civic Center like a torrential summer rainstorm Sunday night, and her adoring audience lapped up every bit.

For about two hours, Madge kept her audience engaged, providing visual accompaniment as only she can to a list of hits, both recent and classic. It was the first of two Hartford shows for the 47-year-old, who looked all of 30. The second show – tonight at 8 – was added after tickets to the first sold out in a matter of hours.

Though nothing less has come to be expected of the Material Girl, she once again proved herself not just a singer but an entertainer extraordinaire.

Only icons can deliver a show like this, when audiences know almost every word of every song. When the energy level remains so high that people stand or dance throughout. For this, fans were willing to dole out up to $352 each to see the spectacle.

And what a spectacle it was.

Click on the Full Article link below to continue reading this story by Brynn Mandel, Republican-American .

The requisite “Like a Virgin” performance was reminiscent of Esther’s “Erotica” days. She performed atop the saddle suspended by a stripper’s pole in an act almost more acrobatic than bold.

The show opened moments earlier with man-horses running around in bondage-like bridles.

Amanda Whitman and Aaron Johnston drove from New Brunswick, Canada, to see the show. The couple paid several hundred dollars for their floor seats.

“It’s one of those things like, who knows when she’ll tour again?” said Johnston.

Her voice was at least at recording quality throughout, which is to say sufficiently capable. But people don’t come out for her pipes alone.

Though the four-month “Confessions” world tour coincides with Madonna’s latest release, “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” the evening was hardly all leotards and leg warmers. Video montages paired images of the Pope with images of a dumbfounded-looking President Bush. A nod to her Kabbalist beliefs came when a shofar blowing heralded “Isaac,” a song that stirred controversy among rabbis who believed Madonna was trying to profit by singing about a holy rabbi, which she denied in published reports.

Through seven costume changes, Madonna went from Jesus proxy to the mindless times of the disco days.

From rep-am.com.