First Christmas Concert Held at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris After Fire

For the first time since the fire in 2019, a Christmas concert has been held at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. This was reported by TASS. The event featured a limited number of musicians and soloists and was broadcast on French television channels.

The special guests of the evening included French cellist Gautier Capuçon and opera singer Julie Fuchs. In addition to works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Schubert, well-known Christmas songs were performed.

“The cathedral is still in a fragile state,” said Jean-Louis Georgelin, who is responsible for its restoration. The musicians received all necessary safety instructions before the concert. According to regulations, the performers had to wear special helmets.

The parish of Paris allowed the musicians to enter the cathedral to inspire hope and strengthen faith. Restoration work at Notre-Dame Cathedral is ongoing. A 3D model of the cathedral is being created to help architects plan the necessary work. The renovation of the cathedral could take between 10 to 15 years.

The concert took place without an audience. Initially, as stated by choir conductor Henri Chalef, it was planned for 20 singers to participate, but the number was eventually reduced to eight. A maximum of 25 people were allowed in the filming location.

“Previously, we sang in the cathedral almost every evening; it was our second home. Now we are grateful for this opportunity,” Chalef said.

The fire at Notre-Dame occurred on April 15, 2019, resulting in the collapse of the cathedral's spire and roof.