Before a crowd of more than 100,000 people, most of them from the generations that grew up in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, Elton returned to Brazil for a one-night-only performance at the Cidade do Rock in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.
"Good evening, Rio. Good evening, Brazil," said the British pianist and songwriter, wearing a blue shirt and matching blue glasses with a bright yellow jacket, after performing Funeral for a Friend and Love Lies Bleeding, which opened his show before an ecstatic audience that had waited for him in the cold.
The audience spared no effort to show its affection for the music icon, wearing flamboyant glasses in a variety of styles and sequined outfits reminiscent of some of his most iconic looks from decades past.
Fans sang along as videos played on screens behind the stage, gradually revealing the 79-year-old performer, who was clearly visible only to those closest to the stage.
Sacrifice, Rocket Man, Bennie and the Jets and I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues were among the songs performed by the five-time Grammy winner, who has also won two Golden Globes, a Tony Award and six Brit Awards, as well as two Oscars for best original song.
Nearly three years after completing the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, a five-year farewell tour that included 330 concerts in countries around the world the British singer made it up to his Brazilian fans with a one-of-a-kind performance.
Elton's performance closed the fourth day of concerts at the Cidade do Rock, a day marked by a performance from Brazilian singer-songwriter Gilberto Gil, who has also retired from touring.
