“The freshest, most supple and varied score Glass has written in several years. Alludes to Bach’s Solo Cello Suites; has the bravura quality of a romantic Concerto Cadenza; draws on the expressive phrasing and chromaticism of jazz. A hypnotic collaboration.” New York Times

“Listening to what Phil has done has provided me with a very special and rarefied pleasure. This is just like Bach asking if he could use your lyrics.” Leonard Cohen

 

World Premiere Season

Canada/USA 

A new work by Philip Glass based on the poetry and images of Leonard Cohen, co-commissioned by Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts.

A spectacular union of living legends as composer Philip Glass interprets the poetry of Leonard Cohen.

In 2006, Leonard Cohen concluded two decades of work, publishing his ruminative poetry and sketches in the Book of Longing. The result is a sweeping series of ballads, love poems, retrospectives and unexpectedly comic pieces, as well as some deeply spiritual meditations written during the eight years Cohen spent in a Buddhist monastery.

When Cohen read these works to his friend and mutual admirer, the enthusiastic response from Philip Glass was to suggest a collaboration that celebrated the poems musically. And so in this world premiere commissioned production, the Festival is privileged to welcome Glass as he presents these two remarkable concerts in spoken word, instrumental music and song, with an ensemble of eight musicians (including the composer himself) and four singers under the staging of acclaimed American choreographer Susan Marshall. Cohen also makes guest appearances via recorded spoken word selections of the work, and through his own visual artworks incorporated into the production.

Meditative, playful, erotic and provocative: Cohen’s words find their sonic syntax in Glass’s elegant and hypnotic score.

 

Music
Philip Glass

Lyrics, images & Recorded Voice
Leonard Cohen

Performed by
Will Erat, Tim Fain, Philip Glass, Tara Hugo, Daniel Keeling, Megan Marolf, Eleonore Oppenheim, Dominique Plaisant, Michael Riesman, Mick Rossi, Andrew Sterman, Wendy Sutter

Set
Christine Jones

Costumes
Kasia Walicka Maimone

Original Lighting Design
Scott Zielinski

Lighting Design adapted by
Doug Witney

Music Direction
Michael Riesman

Stage Direction
Susan Marshall

Producer
Linda Brumbach

Production Management
Pomegranate Arts Inc.

Note: Leonard Cohen will not be appearing in person.

 

Book of Longing was commissioned by: Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity, Toronto; Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts; The Barbican Centre, London; Lincoln Center Festival 2007, New York; Stanford Lively Arts, Stanford University; University of Texas at Austin Performing Arts Center with support from the Topfer Endowment for Performing Arts Production; Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff; with additional support from the Ravinia Festival.