Cohen Noir @ Melbourne Recital Centre

Rediscover Leonard Cohen.

Some songs become part of who we are.

They accompany us through different seasons of life, speaking to us differently as we ourselves change. Leonard Cohen’s songs are among those rare companions, rich with beauty, longing, tenderness and extraordinary insight into what it means to be human.

Following last year’s acclaimed Melbourne performance, Cohen Noir returns to the Melbourne Recital Centre, inviting audiences once again into the extraordinary world of Leonard Cohen.

In a year that marks ten years since Leonard Cohen’s passing, and only days after what would have been his 92nd birthday, this acclaimed production invites audiences into Cohen’s songs, poetry and prose with extraordinary sensitivity and imagination.

An exceptional ensemble of musicians and guest artists draws on jazz, tango, Latin, folk, klezmer and cinematic orchestration to reveal new colours and perspectives while remaining faithful to the emotional heart of the songs.

Throughout the performance, Cohen’s own recorded voice, poetry and unmistakable humour weave gently through the music, drawing audiences into the world behind the songs and revealing the wisdom, humanity and quiet grace that resonate so deeply.

Over the past 17 years, triple ARIA Award-winning Monsieur Camembert’s Cohen Noir has evolved into one of Australia’s most acclaimed live music experiences, earning standing ovations and sold-out performances at the Sydney Opera House, State Theatre, City Recital Hall and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Audiences return not simply to hear these extraordinary songs again, but to discover something new within them.

Joining Monsieur Camembert for this Melbourne performance are Diana Rouvas, Lyn Bowtell, Timothy James Bowen, Susie Bishop, Daniel Weltlinger and the remarkable Bukhu, whose haunting Mongolian throat singing and horse-hair fiddle add another unforgettable voice to this rich musical landscape.

Whether you’re returning to Cohen Noir or experiencing it for the first time, this unforgettable evening offers a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the songs, poetry and humanity of one of the world’s greatest songwriters.

“If you like Leonard Cohen, you ought to hear Monsieur Camembert’s Cohen Noir. You more especially ought to hear it if you dislike Leonard Cohen: here’s your cure for received notions about Cohen as a byword for gloom! Spirited, musically assured, eclectic and downright fun. They never imitate Cohen, but do right by him, with glee and sensitivity.” (Doug Spencer, ABC Radio National)

“Monsieur Camembert does justice to the emotional, lyrical and melodic intent of the songs while adding a new dimension.” (Tony Hillier, The Weekend Australian)

“A phenomenal celebration of Cohen’s life, music and lyrics.” (Canberra Critics Circle)

“A musical experience that was nothing short of magical… a deep celebration of Leonard Cohen’s poetic soul… rich, raw and beautifully orchestrated… simply extraordinary.” (Hush Hush Biz)

“The texture and richness of this ensemble gives all the depth required for Cohen’s art… an epic, almost religious experience that raised the roof and brought tears to many eyes.” (Glam Adelaide)

“They never imitate Cohen, but do right by him, with glee and sensitivity.” (Doug Spencer, ABC Radio National)

“An utterly extraordinary and uplifting night of music!” (Glenn A. Baker)

“A splendidly fashioned immersion in the life, works, and wry wisdom of a remarkable poet musician.” (InReview)

“Cohen was intensely spiritual, and that spirit lives on in the music of Monsieur Camembert. They have captured and expressed his quest for the meaning of existence with love and exquisite musical arrangements.” ★★★★★ (The Clothesline)

“Monsieur Camembert’s Leonard Cohen Show is the font that keeps on giving. They dance through verse after verse, putting flesh on the despairing bones of his songs…like slanted light catching dust motes and turning them into solid beams…illuminating afresh these lyrics that lift scabs on the confronting, mortifying, exultant business of being human. A brilliant celebration of a singular artist.” (John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald)