“We must remain cautious until the last moment,” we are told. Nobody communicates, because a lot can still change. It's worse than the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. » Nevertheless, the musical aspect of the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral is becoming clearer day by day. If the organizers of this event celebrated in mondiovision, the diocese of Paris, the Élysée, the communicator Publicis Group, as well as the broadcaster France Télévisions, remain very secretive about the program, some confirmations are starting to fall.
The concert which will begin around 9 p.m. on France 2 on December 7 will pay tribute to all those who saved and rebuilt the monument and will oscillate for two hours between sacred, classical and pop repertoire. The artists, who will not receive a fee, will perform in the cathedral and on its square. According to our information, Gautier and Renaud Capuçon will participate and they could not be more legitimate. The two brothers are very linked to this building, where they have played several times. The first was one of the few to perform there since the fire, during the 2020 Christmas celebrations. The second toured the cathedrals in 2019 to raise funds for the work on the building after the fire which ravaged it on April 15, 2019.
“There will be very great artists of international renown” announced Philippe Jost, the person responsible for the restoration of the cathedral. A promise also kept with the Chinese pianist Lang Lang who got married in Paris in 2019 and often lives there with family, and the French-American violinist of Chinese origin Yo-Yo Ma. But also the Beninese and French star with multiple Grammys Awards and with powerful humanist convictions, Angélique Kidjo. A more unexpected presence, the Lebanese star Hiba Tawaji should also perform but without her husband, the trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, who will play the same evening at the Salle Pleyel.
Rumors have been suggesting for several weeks the arrival of Paul McCartney and Bono. The singer of U2 is no, we are assured. If we are to believe the interview recently given to us by The Edge, the band's guitarist, the musicians are in Dublin to work on their next album. But “Macca”, why not. There would still be discussions with the ex-Beatles bassist, who will be in the capital on December 4 and 5 for two concerts at Paris' La Défense Arena then will leave for Madrid for a show on December 9.
As for French-speaking artists, talks are underway with Quebecois Garou, Clara Luciani, an electronic musician… The name of the young trumpeter Lucienne Renaudin Vary has been circulating for a long time, but she will be in concert in Germany that evening. Just like that of Vianney, who had been invited by the diocese of Paris, but had to decline the invitation. Artists who tour a lot in churches, such as Laurent Voulzy and Hugues Aufray, and who had their place in this ecumenical celebration, were not approached.
