Celine (concert residency)

Las Vegas concert residency by Céline Dion From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Celine was the second concert residency by Canadian singer Celine Dion.[2] It was staged at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning 15 March 2011, with an estimated seventy performances per year. The residency ranked 26th in Pollstar's "Top 50 Worldwide Tour (Mid-Year)", earning over $20 million.[3] Seen by more than 200,000 people, it became the number one show in 2011 for North America. It made Dion the top earner in Las Vegas, with $500,000 per show,[4] and led to her being described as the "most profitable music act in Las Vegas" since Elvis Presley.[5]

LocationLas Vegas, Nevada
Start date15 March 2011
End date8 June 2019
Quick facts Location, Venue ...
Celine
Residency by Celine Dion
Promotional poster for the residency
LocationLas Vegas, Nevada
VenueThe Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Start date15 March 2011
End date8 June 2019
No. of shows427
Attendance1.74 million
Box office$296.2 million[1]
Celine Dion concert chronology
Close

According to Pollstar end of year data (201113), the residency grossed $116.5 million from 726,346 tickets sold.[6][7][8] In March 2013, Dion's manager and husband, René Angélil, announced that the residency contract had been extended to 2019.[9] On 13 August 2014, Dion and Caesars announced that all planned shows through 22 March 2015 had been cancelled due to Angélil's battle with throat cancer.[10][11]

On 24 March 2015, it was announced that Dion would resume the residency on 27 August 2015 with new theatrical and musical elements, along with a new visual presentation. Around the same time, Dion's management released a statement confirming the departure of the singer's longtime touring band members: musical director Claude "Mego" Lemay, guitarist André Coutu, keyboardist Yves Frulla, bassist Marc Langis, and violinist Jean-Seb Carré. The new band included musical director Scott Price, guitarist Kaven Girouard, bassist Yves Labonte, and violinist Phillippe Dunnigan, who took on the main violin solos. On 14 January 2016, Dion cancelled the remaining January performances following her husband's death from cancer.[12] She resumed the residency on 23 February to a sold-out audience and positive critical response. Dion marked her 1000th Las Vegas show on 8 October 2016. The residency was seen by more than two million spectators. The show concluded on 8 June 2019, as announced on 24 September 2018.

Celine became the second biggest concert residency of all time, after A New Day..., with a gross approaching $300 million.[13]

Background

"I'm coming back home to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and I'm very excited about it. With the orchestra and the band we're going to be able to perform our songs like never before. The repertoire is going to be extraordinary...a mix of timeless Hollywood classics, along with all the favorites that my fans like to hear me sing. It's going to be a very beautiful show, and I think we'll be raising the bar higher than we've ever done before. There'll be some truly wonderful moments......I can't wait!"[14]

On 15 March 2011, Dion began a three-year residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The new show included 31 musicians, consisting of a full orchestra and band. The residency was directed and produced by Ken Ehrlich, with creative input from Dion's long-time lighting designer Yves Aucoin and sound mixer/designer Denis Savage.[2] Moment Factory was responsible for the visual elements of the production; the company had previously worked with Nine Inch Nails and DJ Tiesto. The residency did not include dancers or the Cirque du Soleil-style choreography used in Dion's earlier Colosseum show, A New Day.

Dion announced her return to Las Vegas during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Tickets went on sale that same week and demand was exceptionally strong. The opening night performance on 15 March sold out within minutes.[15] Rehearsals began on 17 January 2011 in Florida, and continued at the Colosseum starting on 17 February 2011 when Dion returned to Las Vegas to prepare for the new production.[14]

In January 2011, it was reported that ticket sales for the residency had already surpassed the $10 million mark, making it the fastest-selling engagement in the venue's history. Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner stated that the initial run of shows through 17 April would be completely sold out.[16]

Critical reception

The residency received widespread praise from music critics. USA Today wrote, "Dion isn't here to perform. She's here to kill it. Again... she isn't aiming for applause. She's looking for rapture."[17] The Las Vegas Sun stated, "A magnificent masterpiece! Celine has single-handedly redefined class and elegance in onstage performances. Her voice is sent from the angels."[18] The Montreal Gazette wrote, "Dion magnificent in new Las Vegas show. One hell of a show!...Jaw-dropping... Grandiose, yet intimate...Pure entertainment of the highest order. Worth every penny!"[19] Richard Ouzounian of the Toronto Star headlined his review, "Celine Dion's Vegas show more spectacular than ever," adding, "If her last show sold out for five years, this one should make it for ten."[20]

Commercial performance

At the end of 2011, Pollstar reported that Dion ranked number 10 on its Top 25 North American Tours list, with a gross of $41.2 million.[6] At the end of 2012, she placed number 29 on the Top 50 Worldwide Tours list, earning $36.5 million.[21] In 2013, Pollstar listed her at number 23 on the Top 25 North American Tours with a gross of $38.8 million, and number 25 on the Worldwide Tours list, which included earnings from the European Tour 2013.[8][22]

In its 2014 Mid Year Tour Gross report, Pollstar placed Dion at number 7 on the Top 100 North American Tours list and number 28 on the Top 100 Worldwide Tours list, with a gross of $21.1 million.[23][24] In 2015, she ranked number 47 on the Top 100 American Tours list and number 77 on the Worldwide Grosses list, with a total gross of $22.6 million, reflecting her year-long break to care for her husband.[25]

Dion ranked number 10 on the 2016 Year End Top 100 Worldwide Tours with a gross of $85.5 million, and number 14 on the 2016 Year End Top 200 North American Tours with $61.1 million.[26][27] She then placed number 11 on the 2017 Year End Top 20 Worldwide Tours with a gross of $101.2 million, making her the highest-grossing female artist of that year.[28] Dion also ranked number 15 on Billboard's 2018 year-end boxscore chart with a total gross of $76.5 million.

Broadcasts and recordings

Dion performing "My Heart Will Go On" on opening night (15 March 2011).

Several concerts were professionally filmed for television and promotional use. The premiere concert on 15 March 2011 was recorded in full, with excerpts later included in the documentary "Celine: 3 Boys and a New Show", broadcast in early October 2011 on the Oprah Winfrey Network and used in advertisements for the residency. The documentary featured rehearsal footage of numerous songs, as well as excerpts from the premiere, including "Open Arms", "Goldfinger", "(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)", "River Deep, Mountain High", "My Heart Will Go On", "Ne me quitte pas", The Power of Love, "At Seventeen", and "Ben/Man in the Mirror". Additional broadcasts followed: "Open Arms" from the 26 March concert aired during the 2011 MDA Show of Strength telethon, and "Because You Loved Me", filmed on 15 June, was shown during the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards on 19 June 2011.

On 15 January 2012, Dion performed a special concert supporting "Play without Pain: Children's Sickle Cell Benefit". The entire event was filmed, with excerpts of "Open Arms" and "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" appearing in a behind-the-scenes video, and a 47‑second clip of "My Heart Will Go On" later sold to news outlets after the cancellation of future concerts in August 2014. A live video of "My Heart Will Go On", filmed on 1, 2, and 3 July 2011 and showing Dion performing inside a circular water curtain created by Aquatique Show, leaked on YouTube on 12 July 2012 before its official release on 31 July. Her performance of "Loved Me Back to Life" on 30 December 2013 was filmed and broadcast the next day on Entertainment Tonight Canada.

After her husband's death on 14 January 2016, Dion resumed her residency on 23 February 2016. A video tribute, along with "With One More Look at You/Watch Closely Now" and "Where Does My Heart Beat Now", was streamed live on Facebook, and an excerpt of "All by Myself" from that night was later shown on television as she struggled to finish the song. In 2017, several moments were streamed or uploaded to Facebook, including her tribute to the victims of the Manchester attack on 23 May, the first live performance of "How Does a Moment Last Forever" on 24 May, and a message with an excerpt of "Recovering" on 20 September after a destructive hurricane season. Following the Las Vegas mass shooting, Dion returned to the stage two days later, opening the show with a streamed speech and donating all proceeds from that performance to the victims' families.

On 31 December 2017, CNN aired a short satellite interview and an excerpt of "Because You Loved Me" during its New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, while Fox's New Year's Eve with Steve Harvey broadcast "River Deep, Mountain High", prerecorded on 25 November 2017. Dion did not change costumes during that show due to wearing a corset after cancelling the previous performance because of lower back spasms. Later recordings shared online included the first live performance of "Ashes" on 22 May 2018, with another excerpt posted on 10 February 2019 to mark the Grammy nomination for the Deadpool 2 soundtrack, and the first live performance of "Flying on My Own" on 7 June 2019, released the following day.

Set list

The following set list was performed during the shows between 15 March 2011 and 22 January 2012.[29]

"I Drove All Night" video introduction

  1. "Open Arms"
  2. "Where Does My Heart Beat Now"
  3. "Because You Loved Me"
  4. "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" / "The Power of Love" (medley)

Violin solo interlude

  1. "(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)"
  2. "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)"
  3. "The Reason"

James Bond Theme instrumental interlude

  1. "Goldfinger" / "Nobody Does It Better" / "Live and Let Die" (medley)

"Spinning Wheel" background singers intermission

  1. "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?"
  2. "Overjoyed" (virtual duet with Stevie Wonder)

Video interlude

  1. "At Seventeen"
  2. "Beauty and the Beast"
  3. "Ne me quitte pas"
  4. "All by Myself"

"Smooth Criminal" / "Beat It" instrumental interlude

  1. "Ben" / "Man in the Mirror" (medley)

"Declaration of Love" instrumental interlude

  1. "Love Can Move Mountains" / "River Deep, Mountain High" (medley)

Titanic instrumental interlude

  1. "My Heart Will Go On"

Shows

Legs 1–10

More information Date, City ...
Date City Country Venue Attendance Revenue
Leg 1[30]
15 March 2011 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 84,209 / 84,209 $14,083,340
16 March 2011
19 March 2011
20 March 2011
22 March 2011
23 March 2011
25 March 2011
26 March 2011
1 April 2011
2 April 2011
3 April 2011
6 April 2011
7 April 2011
9 April 2011
10 April 2011
12 April 2011
13 April 2011
15 April 2011
16 April 2011
17 April 2011
Leg 2[31]
7 June 2011 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 72,055 / 72,055 $12,019,715
8 June 2011
11 June 2011
12 June 2011
14 June 2011
15 June 2011
18 June 2011
19 June 2011
21 June 2011
22 June 2011
25 June 2011
26 June 2011
28 June 2011
29 June 2011
1 July 2011
2 July 2011
3 July 2011
Leg 3[32]
19 July 2011 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 71,730 / 71,730 $11,905,240
20 July 2011
23 July 2011
24 July 2011
26 July 2011
27 July 2011
30 July 2011
31 July 2011
2 August 2011
3 August 2011
6 August 2011
7 August 2011
9 August 2011
10 August 2011
12 August 2011
13 August 2011
14 August 2011
Leg 4[33]
28 December 2011 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 66,490 / 66,490 $10,628,760
30 December 2011
31 December 2011
3 January 2012
4 January 2012
7 January 2012
8 January 2012
10 January 2012
11 January 2012
14 January 2012
15 January 2012
17 January 2012
18 January 2012
20 January 2012
21 January 2012
22 January 2012
Leg 5[34]
9 June 2012 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 76,468 / 77,991 $12,569,716
10 June 2012
12 June 2012
13 June 2012
16 June 2012
17 June 2012
19 June 2012
20 June 2012
23 June 2012
24 June 2012
26 June 2012
27 June 2012
30 June 2012
1 July 2012
3 July 2012
4 July 2012
6 July 2012
7 July 2012
8 July 2012
Leg 6[35]
24 July 2012 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 68,791 / 71,787 $11,187,968
25 July 2012
28 July 2012
29 July 2012
31 July 2012
1 August 2012
4 August 2012
5 August 2012
7 August 2012
8 August 2012
11 August 2012
12 August 2012
14 August 2012
15 August 2012
17 August 2012
18 August 2012
19 August 2012
Leg 7[36]
28 December 2012 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 102,574 / 106,902[a] $16,999,615[a]
30 December 2012
31 December 2012
3 January 2013
5 January 2013
6 January 2013
9 January 2013
12 January 2013
13 January 2013
15 January 2013
16 January 2013
18 January 2013
19 January 2013
20 January 2013
Leg 8
26 February 2013 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace [a] [a]
27 February 2013
2 March 2013
3 March 2013
5 March 2013
6 March 2013
9 March 2013
10 March 2013
12 March 2013
13 March 2013
15 March 2013
16 March 2013
Leg 9
4 June 2013 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 75,006 / 81,329 $9,904,355
5 June 2013
8 June 2013
9 June 2013
11 June 2013
12 June 2013
15 June 2013
16 June 2013
18 June 2013
19 June 2013
22 June 2013
23 June 2013
25 June 2013
26 June 2013
29 June 2013
30 June 2013
2 July 2013
3 July 2013
5 July 2013
6 July 2013
Leg 10
6 August 2013 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 63,900 / 67,670 $9,296,915
7 August 2013
10 August 2013
11 August 2013
13 August 2013
14 August 2013
17 August 2013
18 August 2013
20 August 2013
21 August 2013
24 August 2013
25 August 2013
27 August 2013
28 August 2013
31 August 2013
1 September 2013
Close

Legs 11–20

More information Date, City ...
Date City Country Venue Attendance Revenue
Leg 11
30 December 2013 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 43,009 / 45,740 $6,896,830
31 December 2013
4 January 2014
5 January 2014
8 January 2014
11 January 2014
12 January 2014
14 January 2014
15 January 2014
18 January 2014
19 January 2014
Leg 12[37]
18 February 2014 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 71,916 / 75,349 $11,109,595
19 February 2014
21 February 2014
22 February 2014
25 February 2014
26 February 2014
28 February 2014
1 March 2014
4 March 2014
5 March 2014
7 March 2014
8 March 2014
11 March 2014
12 March 2014
14 March 2014
15 March 2014
18 March 2014
19 March 2014
Leg 13[38]
10 June 2014 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 51,070 / 57,715 $7,425,208
11 June 2014
14 June 2014
15 June 2014
17 June 2014
18 June 2014
21 June 2014
24 June 2014
25 June 2014
27 June 2014
28 June 2014
1 July 2014
2 July 2014
4 July 2014
Leg 14
29 July 2014 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 4,209 / 4,209 $681,005
Leg 15[39][40]
27 August 2015 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 41,606 / 42,212 $6,813,327
29 August 2015
30 August 2015
2 September 2015
4 September 2015
5 September 2015
8 September 2015
9 September 2015
11 September 2015
12 September 2015
Leg 16[39][41]
29 September 2015 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 33,866 / 33,866 $5,565,271
30 September 2015
2 October 2015
3 October 2015
6 October 2015
7 October 2015
9 October 2015
10 October 2015
Leg 17[39][42]
3 November 2015 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 49,993 / 50,924 $8,127,305
4 November 2015
7 November 2015
8 November 2015
10 November 2015
11 November 2015
13 November 2015
14 November 2015
17 November 2015
18 November 2015
20 November 2015
21 November 2015
Leg 18[39][43]
30 December 2015 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 32,648 / 33,132 $5,135,536
31 December 2015
2 January 2016
6 January 2016
9 January 2016
10 January 2016
12 January 2016
13 January 2016
Leg 19[44]
23 February 2016 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 47,336 / 49,702 $7,357,980
24 February 2016
26 February 2016
27 February 2016
1 March 2016
2 March 2016
4 March 2016
5 March 2016
8 March 2016
9 March 2016
11 March 2016
12 March 2016
Leg 20[44]
17 May 2016 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 46,706 / 46,706 $7,683,545
18 May 2016
20 May 2016
21 May 2016
24 May 2016
27 May 2016
28 May 2016
31 May 2016
1 June 2016
3 June 2016
4 June 2016
Close

Legs 21–33

More information Date, City ...
Date City Country Venue Attendance Revenue
Leg 21[45]
20 September 2016 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 50,916 / 50,916 $8,427,700
21 September 2016
23 September 2016
24 September 2016
27 September 2016
28 September 2016
30 September 2016
1 October 2016
4 October 2016
5 October 2016
7 October 2016
8 October 2016
Leg 22[45]
1 November 2016 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 40,658 / 42,080 $6,541,620
2 November 2016
4 November 2016
15 November 2016
16 November 2016
18 November 2016
19 November 2016
22 November 2016
25 November 2016
26 November 2016
Leg 23[45]
17 January 2017 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 47,886 / 50,452 $7,852,845
18 January 2017
20 January 2017
21 January 2017
24 January 2017
25 January 2017
27 January 2017
28 January 2017
31 January 2017
1 February 2017
3 February 2017
4 February 2017
Leg 24[45]
4 April 2017 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 50,227 / 50,989 $8,579,400
5 April 2017
7 April 2017
8 April 2017
11 April 2017
12 April 2017
14 April 2017
15 April 2017
18 April 2017
19 April 2017
21 April 2017
22 April 2017
Leg 25[45]
9 May 2017 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 61,296 / 63,207 $10,395,450
12 May 2017
13 May 2017
16 May 2017
17 May 2017
19 May 2017
20 May 2017
23 May 2017
24 May 2017
27 May 2017
28 May 2017
30 May 2017
31 May 2017
2 June 2017
3 June 2017
Leg 26[45]
19 September 2017 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 48,902 / 50,951 $8,336,580
20 September 2017
22 September 2017
23 September 2017
26 September 2017
27 September 2017
29 September 2017
30 September 2017
3 October 2017
4 October 2017
6 October 2017
7 October 2017
Leg 27[45]
7 November 2017 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 45,304 / 46,387 $7,504,573
8 November 2017
10 November 2017
11 November 2017
14 November 2017
15 November 2017
17 November 2017
18 November 2017
21 November 2017
24 November 2017
25 November 2017
Leg 28[45]
30 December 2017 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 8,372 / 8,372 $1,953,280
31 December 2017
2 January 2018 16,259 / 16,981 $2,691,220
3 January 2018
5 January 2018
12 January 2018
Leg 29[45]
22 May 2018 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 47,053 / 50,481 $7,839,143
23 May 2018
25 May 2018
26 May 2018
29 May 2018
30 May 2018
1 June 2018
2 June 2018
5 June 2018
6 June 2018
8 June 2018
9 June 2018
Leg 30[45]
30 October 2018 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
31 October 2018
2 November 2018
3 November 2018
6 November 2018
7 November 2018
9 November 2018
10 November 2018
13 November 2018
14 November 2018
16 November 2018
17 November 2018
Leg 31[45]
28 December 2018 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
29 December 2018
31 December 2018
2 January 2019
4 January 2019
5 January 2019
8 January 2019
11 January 2019
15 January 2019
16 January 2019
19 January 2019
20 January 2019
Leg 32[45]
26 February 2019 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
27 February 2019
1 March 2019 42,712 / 42,840 $7,894,048
2 March 2019
5 March 2019
6 March 2019
8 March 2019
9 March 2019
12 March 2019
13 March 2019
15 March 2019
16 March 2019
Leg 33[45]
14 May 2019 Las Vegas United States The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 67,893 / 67,893 $18,899,163
15 May 2019
17 May 2019
18 May 2019
21 May 2019
22 May 2019
24 May 2019
25 May 2019
28 May 2019
29 May 2019
31 May 2019
1 June 2019
4 June 2019
5 June 2019
7 June 2019
8 June 2019
Total 1,631,060 / 1,681,267 (97.01%) $272,306,248
Close

Cancelled shows

More information Date, Reason ...
List of cancelled concerts, showing date, and reason for cancellation
Date Reason
22 February 2012 Vocal rest[46]
25 February 2012
26 February 2012
28 February 2012
29 February 2012
3 March 2012
4 March 2012
6 March 2012
7 March 2012
10 March 2012
11 March 2012
13 March 2012
14 March 2012
16 March 2012
17 March 2012
18 March 2012
19 February 2013 Sinus infection[47][48]
20 February 2013
22 February 2013
5 July 2014
30 July 2014 Vocal cord inflammation[49][50]
1 August 2014
2 August 2014
5 August 2014
6 August 2014
8 August 2014
9 August 2014
12 August 2014
13 August 2014
15 August 2014 – 22 March 2015 Family health[51]
16 January 2016 Deaths of husband René Angélil and brother Daniel Dion in January 2016[12]
17 January 2016
5 November 2016 Viral Infection
7 November 2016
9 November 2016
11 November 2016
12 November 2016
22 November 2017 Lower back spasms
6 January 2018 Throat inflammation
9 January 2018
13 January 2018
16 January 2018
17 January 2018
19 January 2018
20 January 2018
27 March 2018 Patulous Eustachian tube surgery[52]
28 March 2018
30 March 2018
31 March 2018
3 April 2018
4 April 2018
6 April 2018
7 April 2018
10 April 2018
11 April 2018
13 April 2018
14 April 2018
17 April 2018
18 April 2018
Close

Band

  • Claude "Mégo" Lemay – musical director, piano (2011–2014)
  • Scott Price – musical director, piano (2015–2019)[53]
  • Marc Langis – bass (2011–2014)
  • Yves Labonté – bass (2015–2019)
  • André Coutu – guitars (2011–2014)
  • Kaven Girouard – guitars (2015–2019)
  • Yves Frulla – keyboards (2011–2014)
  • Guillaume Marchand – keyboards (2015–2019)
  • Dominique Messier – drums
  • Paul Picard – percussion
  • Élise Duguay – background vocals, tin whistle, cello
  • Barnev Valsaint – background vocals
  • Dawn Cumberbatch – background vocals
  • Jean Sebastien Carré – violin (2011–2014)
  • Philippe Dunnigan – violin
  • Jenny Elfving – violin
  • Laraine Kaizer – violin
  • Rebecca Ramsey – violin
  • Svetlin Belneev – violin
  • Lisa Dondlinger – violin
  • Lenka Hajkova – violin
  • John Arnold – violin
  • De Ann Letourneau – violin
  • Jerome Gordon – viola
  • Kaila Potts – viola
  • Dmitri Kourka – viola
  • Lindsey Springer – cello
  • Raymond Sicam III – cello
  • Irina Chirkova – cello
  • Judy Kang – cello
  • Eric Tewalt – woodwinds
  • Philip Wigfall – woodwinds
  • Daniel Falcone – trumpet
  • Matt Fronke – trumpet
  • Kurt Evanson – trumpet
  • Nico Edgerman – trumpet
  • Donald Lorice – trumpet
  • Nathan Tanouye – trombone

Notes

  1. Attendance and revenue for legs 7 and 8 are combined.

See also

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI