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Critics across several publications celebrated Celine Dion’s performance as an emotional and triumphant return to the stage. The Telegraph described the show as a high-stakes, high-wire return, perhaps the riskiest comeback in the history of showbusiness, highlighting how the singer’s voice, though more raw, delivered with greater authenticity. According to The Guardian, Dion glided onto the stage in a black dress and launched into On ne change pas, with tears coming almost immediately before shifting to elation.
The concert on September 12 marked Dion’s first full-length live show in six years at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre. A New York Times report noted that the 58-year-old opened at 8:48 p.m. to a capacity crowd of around 35,000 after an Olympics performance two years earlier had served as a teaser. Billboard detailed a 29-song set that featured her new single Dansons, an a cappella All by Myself and classics including My Heart Will Go On in a medley with other hits.
Dion has been open about her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness and spasms. Reuters reported that she became emotional during the opening number and told the audience the tears were of joy after promising not to cry. The condition had forced her to cancel tours, with her last full concert coming in 2020 just before the pandemic, multiple outlets confirmed.
Demand for the residency has been extraordinary, with more than nine million people entering a lottery for tickets to the initial run of 16 dates this fall. Rolling Stone indicated that an additional 10 shows were added for 2027 due to high interest, bringing the total to 26 performances. The event drew notable guests including Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, as Euronews observed.
Reviewers pointed to both the vulnerability and strength on display throughout the evening. The Times of London called the night overwhelming and praised the way Dion threw love to the crowd that returned it in equal measure. A CBC reporter in attendance said the performance left the audience without words, capturing the collective emotion in the arena.
Dion mixed French-language tracks with English hits, showcasing different facets of her artistry. According to the New York Times, the show included a disco segment and an opera aria performed under falling snow. The muted staging allowed her emotional delivery and vocal power to take center stage, as detailed in the Telegraph review.
