Céline Dion returns to concert stage after nearly six years

Céline Dion returned to the concert stage Saturday night after nearly six years away, performing before nearly 33,000 people at Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, outside Paris. The Quebec superstar opened with “On ne change pas,” or “we don’t change,” calling her return a journey that had been rocky.

The two-and-a-half-hour concert began about 40 minutes late and revisited Dion’s career through hits including “My Heart Will Go On,” “J’irai où tu iras” and “Pour que tu m’aimes encore.” She delivered strong vocal performances despite her health challenges, while fans who travelled from around the world greeted her with sustained applause. After her first song, Dion wiped away tears and told the crowd that she had missed performing.

The concert opened a series of 26 Plenitude Arena shows scheduled for this fall and next spring, including another 10 next year. Dion’s last tour was cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, she disclosed that she had stiff-person syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease that had prevented her from returning to the stage. Although she performed “Hymne à l’amour” at the 2024 Paris Olympics, these concerts are her first full shows in six years.

Former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama was among the celebrities in attendance. The show moved between emotional piano-and-vocal sections and more upbeat moments. At the end of “Destin,” Dion asked whether the audience could hear her heart beating and said their support and love had brought her back to a city she loves. She then performed “Because You Loved Me” as a tribute.

Dion spoke repeatedly about living with her autoimmune disease and her determination to sing and perform again. She said she had learned to live alongside her fragility, to tame it and to turn it into a source of strength. She danced while performing “Ne bouge pas,” “Dans un autre monde” and “I’m Alive,” and surprised the audience with a cover of Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams.”

Short set and costume changes were accompanied by videos of Dion walking through the desert or dancing. Musicians, backup singers and musical director Scott Price, who has worked with her for nearly a decade, joined her throughout the concert. She shared the stage with two backup singers for “J’irai où tu iras” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Despite rumours, no other guests appeared on stage Saturday.

Her performances of “All By Myself” and “Un garçon pas comme les autres (Ziggy)” drew particularly emotional reactions. One of the evening’s most striking moments came with her rendition of the operatic aria “La Wally.” Wearing a long pink coat, Dion stood on a large rock-shaped pedestal as snowflakes fell from the arena ceiling. Afterwards, she said performing the piece had been a dream for her.

Two Montreal-based flight attendants, Frédérique Lauzon and Alexandrine Derome, secured last-minute tickets during a layover. Derome said it was her 24th Dion performance, after seeing her in Las Vegas, Montreal, Quebec City and Paris, as well as at tapings of special television shows in Montreal.

Dion closed with French-language classics including “Pour que tu m’aimes encore” and “S’il suffisait d’aimer,” with the crowd singing along. “Des milliers de baisers” was the final song. Between songs, she urged fans to dream big and pay attention to what people around them may be experiencing, reflecting on her own experience. She repeatedly told the audience to take care of themselves as she blew kisses into the crowd.