SA soprano emotional at reopening of Paris' Notre Dame

After witnessing the Notre Dame being ravaged by flames from her apartment in Paris, South African Opera singer Pretty Yende performed at the reopening of the historic French cathedral on Saturday evening, before a VIP crowd and an audience of millions on TV and the internet.

- s and AFP

Notre Dame is the most famous of the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages and a Unesco World Heritage site.

"I was actually there in Paris when the church burned," Yende told SABC News.

In April 2019, Notre Dame was engulfed by flames, making headlines all over the world.

The fire destroyed the cathedral's spire, weakening the structure and leaving a large hole in the roof. Hundreds of firefighters worked through the night to extinguish the blaze.

"I could see from my window when it happened and literally I could feel the pain and the whole atmosphere change," said the opera singer.

"You could see how important the church is for not only France and Paris but also anyone who is Christian and I am a Christian.