TV Article Celine Dion: René Angélil tribute performed during concert By Isabella Biedenharn Published on February 24, 2016 02:00PM EST Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage Celine Dion gave her first performance since the death of her husband René Angélil Tuesday evening. The first 20 minutes, which included a slideshow of family photos and videos in tribute to Angélil were live streamed from The Colosseum stage in Las Vegas. Dion opened the show with “With One More Look At You/Watch Closely Now,” which PEOPLE reports earned the French-Canadian powerhouse a standing ovation. Following that, a tearful Dion reflected on Angélil’s role as not only her manager, but her husband and the father of her children, in an open, honest speech: “René was my very best critic. He never told me what I wanted to hear, he told me what I needed to hear. You know night after night on our way back home from the show when he was so silent, I could sense that he was trying to know how to approach me without hurting my artistic feeling, but there were things that he had to tell me for my own growth. René is the only man that I have known all my life. He always made me feel that we were on our first date, isn’t that amazing? Never talking bluntly, and always impressing himself in a soft and gentle way. We were one. And nothing has changed we will always be one.” According to PEOPLE, Dion held back her tears until it was time to sing, “All By Myself,” which she belted out “with her head down and her body shaking,” as the audience rose in a standing ovation. Later, during her encore, Dion thanked her audience: “I have to tell that that was definitely the most difficult show that I have done in my whole life and I want to thank you for the support.” She concluded by explaining that her generation never said “I love you,” but Angélil said it so often that Dion began to realize the power of “love.” Finally, she told the audience, “I can say to all of you tonight, I love you.” For more details about the concert, head to PEOPLE.com.