Such is the legendary status of Leonard Cohen, that his mere arrival on stage prompted an immediate standing ovation.
His devoutly loyal audience at Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall on December 2nd maintained this enthusiasm throughout the three hours and 27 inspirational songs.
“Had to go crazy to love you
You who were never the one
Whom I chased through the souvenir heartache
Her braids and her blouse all undone
Sometimes I’d head for the highway
I’m old and the mirrors don’t lie
But crazy has places to hide in
Deeper than saying goodbye”.
With his rich, velvet voice which somehow touches your soul, and his poetic lyrics – every word digested as food for thought – Cohen is majestic and compelling. Now, at 79, he glides around the stage with great ease, kneeling over his microphone to create stillness and intimacy with his audience. Perhaps his most endearing quality is his genuine humility. With a generosity of spirit, he bows to his musicians and takes his hat off for their solos.
The eclectic troupe of musicians supporting him hail from all over the world and bring the utmost professionality to the stage.
Spanish guitarist Javier Mas is extraordinary on the 12-string banduria, guitar, laud and archilaud, which he played in unison quite often with Wiz violinist Alexandru Bublitchi. Rosco Beck is a very clever bassist and musical director. Neil Larsen is astonishing on keyboards and accordion. He has played on over 150 albums, including collaborations with George Harrison, Rickie Lee Jones, Rolling Stones and Jimmy Cliff. For eleven years, he served as musical director and pianist for Al Jarreau.
Mexican drummer and master timekeeper, Rafael Gayol began playing with Robbie Robertson in 1988 and is honoured to be working with Leonard Cohen. Guitarist Mitch Watkins has worked extensively with Lyle Lovett, is an educator at the University of Texas in Austin and enriches the wall of sound.
The three backing vocalists take the music to angelic heights. Grammy Award winning Sharon Robinson first worked with Cohen on his 1979 tour and has since co-authored many songs with him. She sang a heart-wrenching version of “Alexandra Leaving”. Sisters Charley and Hattie Webb from Kent in England first toured with Cohen in 2008. Having recorded with Sting and toured with Rufus Wainwright, they headlined their own sold out tours in UK and Europe and also worked with Australian musician Gotye. They sang a great rendition of Cohen’s “Come Healing” with guitar and mini harp in the concert.
Cohen’s repertoire covered new music from the New Ideas album and favourites such as “Hallelujah”, “Tower of Song” and the quirky “Chelsea Hotel #2” (written for Janis Joplin). He sang more of his older classics in the second half such as “Suzanne”, “So Long Marianne” and my favourite sing-song, “The Partisan”.
The music was supplemented by fantastic lighting by Ryan Murphy, a beautiful rainbow of colours on a backdrop of long white chiffon curtains.
If you are a Leonard Cohen fan, I urge you to see his stage show whenever/wherever you can.