Celine Dion sang late French singer Edith Piaf’s 1949 classic Hymne A L’amour (Hymn To Love) to close the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Photo: Celine Dion/Instagram
Pop diva Celine Dion was overjoyed to make her much-anticipated stage comeback on July 26.
The Canadian, who had not performed live in more than four years, sang late French singer Edith Piaf’s 1949 classic Hymne A L’amour (Hymn To Love) to close the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
“I’m honoured to have performed tonight, for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, and so full of joy to be back in one of my very favourite cities,” Dion wrote on social media on July 26. “Most of all, I’m so happy to be celebrating these amazing athletes, with all their stories of sacrifice and determination, pain and perseverance.”
Posting a photo of herself making a heart sign and another photo of fans carrying a flag with her name together with the Olympic Games’ five-ringed symbol, the 56-year-old added: “All of you have been so focused on your dream, and whether or not you take home a medal, I hope that being here means that it has come true for you.
“You should all be so proud, we know how hard you have worked to be the best of the best. Stay focused, keep going, my heart is with you.”
Artistic director of the opening ceremony Thomas Jolly said it was obvious to ask Dion to close the ceremony.
“In the ceremony, we have a love anthem and that’s Hymne A L’amour. We all wanted to finish the show with this song and our first idea was very simple and clear,” he said. “We wanted to ask the best singer... and this is Celine Dion.”
Dion, best known for My Heart Will Go On (1997), the hit theme song of the blockbuster disaster film Titanic (1997), was first spotted in Paris on July 23, triggering speculation that she would be part of the extravaganza on July 26.
She started her career singing in French and had not performed live since March 2020, when she appeared in New Jersey, United States.
In late 2022, she revealed she is suffering from a rare neurological disorder called stiff-person syndrome.
The syndrome causes muscle rigidity and increased sensitivity to sound, touch and emotional stimuli that can trigger spasms. The condition led the Grammy-winning singer to cancel her tour dates for 2023 and 2024. – Reuters
