Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris hosted its first concert on Saturday since the devastating fire that damaged the building nearly 18 months ago.
The concert, which was recorded, consisted of 20 singers, a soprano soloist, a violinist and a rented organ. The performance is scheduled to air on Christmas Eve, The Associated Press reported.
The performers were socially remote during the performance to comply with French COVID-19 indoor safety measures.
In a statement to the AP, the diocese called the performance a “highly symbolic concert” that was “marked by emotion and hope” and a celebration of a “musical heritage dating back to the Middle Ages.”
Notre Dame hosts 60 concerts throughout the year, although the church has abstained from its normal schedule since the fire in April 2019.
The disastrous fire consumed the roof of the cathedral and destroyed the spire. It also damaged the church’s 8,000-pipe organ, which will be cleaned over the next four years but is expected to be functional again one day, ABC reported in August.
Earlier this month, the church was stabilized and workers were able to start restoring the building.