Only eight singers out of the 160 forming part of the Notre-Dame choir were allowed inside the cathedral to perform for the Christmas Eve concert.
The security measures were “drastic” as a team of 25 people gathered on site to pre-record the event which will be broadcast on France 2 television at 11:30 PM in France on Thursday.
Paris Archbishop Michel Aupetit said holding the concert was important, especially in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic, to share some Christmas cheer.
The performance is only the third event of its kind to be held at Notre-Dame after the massive fire on 15 April 2019 that nearly destroyed the Gothic masterpiece, a Unesco World Heritage site.
In June 2019, a small mass was celebrated in the Chapel of the Virgin Mary to about 30 people and this April, a prayer ceremony was held to mark Good Friday.
Rendez-vous Jeudi 24 au soir sur @France2tv pour le concert à @notredameparis présenté par @bernstephane avec @henrichalet @MusiqueSNDP et @juliefuchssop .@HeleneSegre @rebatirNDP pic.twitter.com/gontnVZNdI
— Gautier CAPUÇON (@GautierCapucon) December 22, 2020
The artists wore yellow construction helmets, boots and blue overalls to conform to security protocols. They also had to face the biting cold. “Our fingers suffered,” said cellist Gautier Capucon. “But this is all part of the Christmas magic.”
The music performed had to be adapted to the exceptional circumstances: the children's choir could not be present, the number of singers drastically reduced.
"Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert and Jehan Alain is on the programme, as is Mozart's "Laudate Dominum". There will also be Christmas carols, including "Silent Night", as well as Gordon Lanford’s "Jingle Bells" and "Rise up shepherd" by Carl Davis.
“We wanted this concert to bring joy and reach everybody. I think people, more than ever, need some of the spirit of Christmas,” said Henri Chalet, the director of the Notre Dame choir.
