Christmas Eve choir held in fire-ravaged Notre Dame

For the first time since last year’s devastating fire, the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris hosted a Christmas Eve choral concert, an annual tradition in France, Reuters CNN.

In a concession to the fact that the Gothic cathedral is still being rebuilt, the choristers wore hard hats and protective suits, without any audience.

The concert —  including ‘Silent Night’ in English and French, ‘The Hymn of the Angels,’ and even ‘Jingle Bells’ — was recorded at the cathedral earlier this month and was broadcast on French television just before midnight on Thursday.

The choristers also performed classical pieces by composers Mozart and Schubert.

“It was very moving,” said cellist Gautier Capucon, describing the experience of recording the concert. Along with an organist, he provided the musical accompaniment for the choir.

“It was the first time we had all been back at Notre Dame cathedral since the fire, so it was a moment full of emotion,” he said in an interview with television station franceinfo.

On April 2019, the cathedral, a landmark of Gothic architecture dating to the 13th century and a major tourist attraction, caught fire. The blaze destroyed the spire and roof.

French President Emmanuel Macron undertook to restore the cathedral within five years.

But to date, most work on the site has focused on making the building safe, including clearing up toxic lead from the roof and spire that melted in the fire.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame is closed to the public and masses are cancelled.