Sneak Peak: Celine Dion's Return to Las Vegas

A New Day, Dion's first engagement at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace ran March 2003 through December 2007 and was seen by 3 million people. This show, produced by Franco Dragone (Cirque du Soleil), backed Celine's incredible voice with stunning artistic displays and was a huge success for everyone involved. Needless to say, both Caesars Palace and Celine Dion were ecstatic to reunite for a new 3 year, roughly 210 show engagement.
By happenstance I found myself invited to attend a special preview of her new show entitled Celine before it's premiere on March 15th, 2011. This performance was a real treat as we got to see every number they rehearsed, whether it would make each night's cut or not. As the lights went down, a short video was shown that encapsulated her time away from Las Vegas, in which she completed two albums, a world tour, and gave birth to twin sons just last year. This intimate look into Celine's life and love of her family was a touching theme that ran throughout the show.

A striking contrast to acrobatics and artists, Dion's show took a more simplistic and iconic approach. This was realized by stage design that included modular lit platforms, starry skies, moving screens, delicate backdrops and a beautifully lit stage that spilled across The Colosseum walls captivating an entire audience of 4,000. With each new song or set change, I continuously found myself more and more impressed not only visually, but by her voice that rang clear as a bell against the harmony of a 31 piece live orchestra.

Celine perfectly sang each song, which included her most popular hits, a few silver-screen surprises, and a touching french song that brought her to tears. Celine and her orchestra performed a variety of music, sampling from many of her favorite artists including Carole King, Billy Joel, Journey, The Beatles, and even gave a touching tribute to Michael Jackson. Fans were astounded by the show, as song after song, through the burst of applause I heard the audience buzz with "Wow," "I love this song," and an occasional "We love you Celine!"

For any Celine Dion fan, this show is an absolute must see. For all others, seeing is believing. I found the spectacle alone impressive enough to understand why Celine sells out nearly every 4,000 seat show. To purchase tickets or get more information about Celine, please visit the official website.