Almost 5 years after the fire that destroyed Notre Dame in Paris, musicians and poets gathered together on the 7th of December to celebrate the reopening of the cathedral. Following readings of Victor Hugo and performances of Mozart’s most famous songs, Pharrell Williams was joined by a 70-strong gospel choir to close the ceremony. With the Voices of Fire choir dressed in traditional white robes and Notre Dame lit up behind them, Music Man fans will be amazed when they see the performance.
The performance started with a rendition of Pharrell Williams’ hit song ‘Happy,’ which was then followed by performances of ‘Say Yes, Lord’ and ‘Joy.’ The gospel singers truly did bring joy to this breathtaking event, particularly Hope Sheree, the soul singer formerly known as Hope Askew, who played a leading role in making these songs sound as glorious as they did. One viewer commented on the video: “So glad a gospel choir was chosen for this. Heavenly voices.”
With the modernity of Pharrell Williams’ songs being combined with the classic sound of a gospel choir, the performance captured the status of Notre Dame as a spiritual place of worship alongside its relevance as one of the most iconic landmarks in the world today. While many classical songs were performed at the reopening of Notre Dame, a performance of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ also managed to capture the exact same feeling of combined antiquity and modernity.
Performed entirely in French by Vianney Burrow, supported by an entire orchestra inside the beautiful Cathedral, ‘Hallelujah’ was the perfect choice for the reopening. The song, which is considered a modern classic in spirituality, moved viewers to tears as the online video garnered over 2.4 million views in the space of only a month. Music Man viewers who also watch the video are sure to agree that this was the perfect way to celebrate the reopening of this iconic building.
After outpourings of grief the world over when Notre Dame went up in flames, followed by an almost five-year-long wait for the cathedral to be mended and refurbished, the reopening deserves nothing less than an event that was truly special. Anyone who sees the beautiful performance from that day is sure to agree that that is exactly what was delivered. With a ceremony filled with joy, celebration, and reverence, the event was a perfect way to usher in a new chapter for this historic landmark.
The magnificent reopening of Notre Dame celebrated both its sacred heritage and modern significance with a remarkable blend of timeless music. Pharrell Williams, the Voices of Fire choir, and standout performances by Hope Sheree filled the cathedral with an inspiring fusion of joy and reverence. To relive this unforgettable event or explore more about the artists and performances that took center stage, follow the useful links provided below.