Celine Dion continued her slow re-emergence after a nearly two-year hiatus from the spotlight due to her battle with debilitating Stiff-Person Syndrome to perform a dazzling two-song set on Wednesday (November 13) at 1001 Seasons ELIE SAAB” event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The celebration of the Lebanese designer's 45-year career in fashion found Dion, 56, taking to the stage amid a parade of statuesque models wearing a pale pink sequined floor-length dress with a puffy cape and her hair pulled back into a bun. Dion slowly made her way down a series of winding stairs at the back of the stage as a line of veiled models wearing similar glittering floor-sweeping gowns made way for her.
After the models slowly moved out of her way, Dion commanded the stage, performing the titanic 1994 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit. 1 “The Power of Love,” as the stage behind her glowed with digital waves of golden light. Her signature vocals sounding undiminished, Dion belted out the tune to the accompaniment of a piano and an orchestral track, punctuating the soaring lines with her dramatic gestures in a performance that left no doubt that, despite her health struggles, the singer is still fully in possession of her matchless instrument.
As if further proof were needed, Dion hit a series of extended notes with such force at the end that even she looked pleasantly surprised and delighted, striking a defiant, power pose before raising her hands over her heart as the room erupted into applause. It didn't take long for Dion to settle into the moment, as a polyrhythmic beat quickly rolled in, accented by intense horns to set up the night's grand finale.
Clapping and bouncing in her seat as she encouraged the crowd to put their hands together, Dion then ripped into another fan favorite, 2002's “I'm Alive,” as the final group of models walked by, some holding out their their hands to greet the pop superstar. . Moving with ease and smiling broadly, Dion looked energized by the group of white-clad dancers who joined her, bucking her hips near the end and spreading her arms wide as a gospel choir rose behind her to sing the song's inspirational chorus.
The singer put her hand over her heart, turned her back to the audience and then slowly twirled for one last dance and a dramatic flourish, shooting her right arm above her head before receiving a pair of pecks on the cheeks from the honoree of the evening. .
The night also featured sets from Jennifer Lopez (performing Gloria Gaynor's “I Will Survive” and her hits “Waiting For Tonight,” “On the Floor” and “Let's Get Loud”) Camila Cabello, Nancy Arjam and Amr Diab .
Wednesday's mini set was just Dion's second performance since her acclaimed return to this summer's Paris 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, followed by a surprise set at the City of Hope 2024 Spirit of Life Gala in Los Angeles in October. Dion has been largely out of the public eye since December 2022, when she revealed her diagnosis with Stiff-Person Syndrome. The rare neurological disorder can cause uncontrollable muscle spasms that make movement difficult, with Dion saying they were sometimes so severe they caused broken ribs.
The singer was forced to postpone all her 2023 and 2024 tour dates as a result, a painful decision she detailed in this year's Prime Video documentary I am: Celine Dion.
Watch Dion's performance below.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/celine-dion-performance-1001-seasons-elie-saab-fashion-show-riyadh-watch-1235828662/
