Céline Dion returned to the stage on September 12 at La Défense Arena in Paris for her first concert in over six years and her first since being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome in 2022. The sold-out show, attended by more than 30,000 fans, marked the beginning of her Paris residency.
The performance spanned four acts with a four-song encore, drawing from her French- and English-language catalogs across 26 songs. Dion opened with the French-language “On ne change pas,” appearing visibly emotional as she received a standing ovation. The setlist included three live debuts: “The Chase,” “Dansons,” and “Je chanterai,” as well as the first full performance of “Ne bouge pas” since 2003 and the first live rendition of “Les derniers seront les premiers” since 2009.
Notable performances included “My Heart Will Go On,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now,” and an operatic rendition of Catalani’s “Ebben? Ne andrò lontana.” The encore featured “All by Myself,” “Pour que tu m’aimes encore,” “S’il suffisait d’aimer,” and “Des milliers de baisers.”
Dion will perform nine additional shows at La Défense Arena through October 14, with dates scheduled for September 16, 19, 23, 26, 30 and October 3, 7, 10, and 14. In March, Dion announced her return to performing, stating: “I’m getting the chance to see you, to perform for you once again in Paris, beginning in September! I’m feeling good, I’m strong.”
Source: Consequence
