Celine Dion is back on stage for her first full concert performance in more than six years, delivering a heartfelt show in front of around 30,000 fans in Nanterre, France. The concert was a historic moment in the singer’s career after she had been out of the live music scene after revealing she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that causes severe muscle spasms and affects a person’s speech and singing.
Dion back at the Plenitude Arena on September 12 2023 as she opens her new Celine Dion Paris 2026 residency The performance, which sold out, included 25 songs and ran for roughly two hours and 15 minutes. Dion’s first full show since March 2020, she made a short appearance on stage at the opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympics. She did a one-song set from the Eiffel Tower.
She kicked off the concert with her French-language song “On ne change pas.” As she belted out the song, she became quite emotional, and said she promised herself she would not tear up. The audience responded with a chorus of applause and chants, immediately creating an electric effect to the importance of her return.
An in particular memorable moment of the evening came during the encore. Dion sang “All By Myself” and sustained a challenging high note before turning to her musical director, casting her face with a mixture of surprise and disbelief. The song received an enthusiastic response from the audience and remained a highlight of the concert.
Dion sang several of her most popular songs, such as “My Heart Will Go On” and “The Power of Love.” A mixture of French and English, her concert also included some impressive vocal feats as well as an operatic aria. While her vocal technique had apparently changed somewhat over the years, she yet gave an energetic and moving performance.
The return is in particular meaningful as Dion has been battling stiff person syndrome. It is a rare, progressive neurological disorder characterized by episodes of prolonged muscle stiffening, muscle spasms and heightened sensitivity to noise, touch and emotional stress. It affected the singer’s singing muscles to the point where she said singing was like being strangled.
Dion announced her diagnosis in 2022 and also cancelled her remaining Courage World Tour dates. She had not toured regularly for several years as she coped with her health and sought the opportunity to return. Her performance in Paris indicates her condition has not vanished, but that she is able to take on the arduous physical demands of live work in well-moderated conditions.
The 16 shows in Paris take place over five weeks, with a further 10 scheduled for May 2027. The schedule will challenge Dion to perform in succession rather than just turn up for a one-off appearance.
