Celine Dion returned to the stage tonight, opening in Paris a run of 26 concerts scheduled over the next eight months, after more than six years away.

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The 58-year-old Canadian singer appeared at the Plenitude Arena, in front of around 30,000 spectators, wearing a black strapless dress. The evening opened with "On ne change pas", but the emotion was intense from the very first minutes.

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Dion paused briefly while singing, as the audience began chanting her name rhythmically.

All 26 of her Paris shows are sold out.

Her return follows a health diagnosis

Her return to the stage comes after an absence caused by stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness and spasms.

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She had revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with the condition, announcing at the same time the postponement of her performances.

Since then, she had significantly limited her public appearances, with the exception of her participation in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. From the Eiffel Tower, Dion had performed Edith Piaf's "L'Hymne à l'amour", wearing a Dior creation.

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