BEIJING, May 24 -- Madonna launched her first world tour in two years Sunday, delighting an enthusiastic Los Angeles crowd by hanging herself from a cross.

    The "Confessions" tour will keep her on the road for two months in North America, and then resume July 30 in Wales for a five-week stadium swing through eight European cities. Shows in Japan are also on tap for mid-September.

    The 47-year-old dance diva spent two hours sang most of songs from her new album, "Confessions on a Dancefloor," as well as a few old hits such as "Like a Virgin," "Ray of Light" and "Lucky Star."

    When a giant mirror ball was lowered from the ceiling to the floor, Madonna, in riding gear and whip, singing the new song "Future Lovers" as four male dancers danced around with ball gags in their mouths.

    Later on, she donned a crown of thorns and suspended herself from a giant mirrored cross to deliver the ballad* "Live to Tell." Video screens showed images of third-world poverty and grim statistics.

    Beyond that, she barely spoke to the audience, largely focusing on keeping control of a busy nightclub-style stage. She did pause for a few songs during which she appeared to play a shiny guitar.

    A disco segment near the end, where she dressed in a disco-style white suit to perform "Music" thrilled the crowd, as did the "Like a Virgin" routine, when she climbed aboard a black leather saddle.

    There was no encore, and the lights came up as soon as she had completed "Lucky Star" and latest hit single "Hung Up" while sporting an illuminated white cape with "Dancing Queen" embroidered on the back.

    (Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)