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PARIS (Reuters) – For the first time since a fire that nearly destroyed it, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris hosted a choral concert on Christmas Eve, an annual tradition in France.
In a concession to the fact that the Gothic cathedral is still being rebuilt, the choristers wore construction helmets and boiler suits, and there was no audience.
The concert was recorded at the cathedral earlier this month and aired on French television just before midnight on Thursday.
The choristers performed classical pieces by composers Mozart and Schubert, but also a more upbeat repertoire, including “Jingle Bells.”
“It was very moving,” said cellist Gautier Capucon, describing the experience of recording the concert. Together with an organist, he provided the musical accompaniment for the choir.
“It was the first time we had returned to Notre-Dame Cathedral since the fire, so it was an emotional moment,” he said in an interview with Franceinfo television station.
The cathedral, a landmark of Gothic architecture dating back to the 13th century and a major tourist attraction, caught fire on April 15, 2019. The fire destroyed the spire and ceiling.
French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to restore the cathedral in five years.
But to date, most of the work on the site has focused on making the building safe, including cleaning the toxic lead from the roof and the spire that melted in the fire.
Meanwhile, Notre-Dame is closed to the public and masses are canceled.
In April this year, seven people were able to attend a religious ceremony in the cathedral to commemorate Good Friday, when Christians commemorate the death of Jesus Christ.
(Written by Christian Lowe; Edited by Mark Heinrich)
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