Céline Dion returned to the stage on Saturday night for the opening concert of her new residency at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, marking her first live performance in over six years following a diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome. Performing before 30,000 spectators in Europe’s largest indoor venue, the 58-year-old singer delivered a two-and-a-half-hour set featuring 27 songs, according to reporting by Agence France-Presse.
An Emotional Welcome Before 30,000 Fans
"There is one thing I can tell you in three words: I’m doing well," Dion told the audience, as reported by Agence France-Presse. "I’ve learned to live with this fragility, by rubbing shoulders with it I have tamed it and I’ve decided to make it my strength to live."
Classics and Arias on a Revolving Stage
The concert opened with the song "On ne change pas" and concluded with a message of affection to the crowd. During the opening number, Dion paused momentarily with tears in her eyes, telling the audience they were tears of joy. Her setlist drew from her French and English discography, including classics like "Pour que tu m’aimes encore," "J’irai où tu iras," and "My Heart Will Go On," alongside a performance of a Bellini opera aria.
Star-Studded Audience in Nanterre
She was accompanied on a revolving stage by backing vocalists and an orchestra led by musical director Scott Price. The audience included family members alongside public figures such as politicians Édouard Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe, and former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, as noted by Le Parisien.
Navigating Six Years of Health Struggles
Dion’s return follows a prolonged absence from touring. After the death of her manager and husband René Angélil in 2016 and the cancellation of her tour in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her plans to resume performing were halted by the onset of stiff-person syndrome. The incurable neurological disorder caused severe physical challenges and forced her to step away from public life, though her condition was not publicly diagnosed until 2022.
Extended Residency and High Demand
The singer made a surprise return in July 2024 to perform Édith Piaf’s "Hymne à l’amour" from the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games. Following that appearance, promoter AEG Presents scheduled her new residency in Nanterre, comprising 16 concerts through mid-October and an additional 10 dates scheduled for May 2027. Securing tickets for the residency proved challenging for fans, with prices reaching several hundred euros.
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