Despite threats from Church and State, Madonna's two German dates have proceeded investigation- and incident-free.
German authorities had threatened to prosecute Madonna if her act was deemed blasphemous. In the end, they decided not to investigate the singer, claiming her routine was protected on the grounds of artistic freedom.The shows of Madonna's 'Confessions' tour feature the singer strapped to a mirrored cross and wearing a crown-of-thorns. Calls from religious figures for a boycott went unheeded by Madonna's German fans, who packed out arenas in D??sseldorf and Hanover. Protestant Bishop Margot Kaesmann had told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, "I thought Madonna was better than this because she claims to be a religious person. But maybe the only way an aging superstar can attract attention is to offend people's religious sentiments."
Meanwhile in Moscow, Madonna faces a different kind of drama, with reports that the venue in the Russian capital may need to be changed for safety reasons. The venue is adjacent to the Lomossov University, and authorities fear that students may fall out of windows as they crane to get a glimpse of the 47-year-old.
AFP quoted Nikolai Koulikov, head of Moscow's security department, who said, "The question of where the Madonna concert will eventually take place has still not been resolved. More than 250,000 tickets have already been sold and we fear the students of the university ... could fall from the windows."
