Last night, Céline Dion announced her major return on France 2. She will perform ten concerts this autumn at La Défense Arena. A grand comeback after six years away.
There were first these posters scattered across Paris. Black handwritten text on a white background, you could read a few iconic titles: “Pour que tu m’aimes encore”, “The Power of Love”, “My Heart Will Go On”. Then the first rumors spoke of a residency at Paris La Défense Arena. Last night, Léa Salamé’s newscast came with a countdown. A little after 9 p.m., a shift to a sound and light show on the Eiffel Tower: “Paris, I am ready!,” could be read on the structure.
The Céline Dion return, too much? For a big star, big pomp. Her message, broadcast in prime time on France 2, announces a major event: she will sing at La Défense Arena this autumn, at a pace of two concerts per week. The show will take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays: September 12, 16, 19, 23, 26 and 30, then October 3, 7, 10 and 14. According to Le Parisien, tickets will cost between 89.50 euros and 298.50 euros.
First, you have to get to the ticket sale. Because to reach the box office, you must first be drawn in a lottery. Registration is done directly on the singer’s website and on La Défense Arena’s site. Last night, a few minutes after the announcement, the queue was already saturated. The lucky ones will receive an email early next week to know whether they have been selected. This famous pre-sale will open on Thursday, April 9 at 10 a.m. The general sale, meanwhile, will take place on Friday, April 10 at 10 a.m.
4 million viewers
A return with an air of exception. This brief announcement, broadcast from 9:08 p.m. to 9:12 p.m., was watched by 4 million viewers according to Médiamétrie. France 2 thus topped the audiences during this very short window. Moreover, Céline Dion may be the only one able to coax Jean-Jacques Goldman out of retirement. According to Le Parisien, the composer and performer will unveil an unreleased track on April 17, specifically for the Quebec singer.
First there was the pandemic. Then four years ago, Céline Dion announced she was leaving the stage. The singer, affected by Stiff Person Syndrome, canceled her European tour to focus on her health. Since then, her appearances have been few and far between. A 2024 documentary on Amazon Prime raised awareness about her little-known condition. Her surprise performance at the Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony in the same year. The singer had closed the evening from the Eiffel Tower, reprising Edith Piaf’s Hymne à l’amour. After six years away, this residency therefore promises to be the autumn’s musical event. Perhaps even of the year.
