Just finished...
MAY 13, 2022
SOLD OUT
MAY 14, 2022
2ND SHOW ADDED
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE WHEELER CENTRE
& FED SQUARE

Download Book of Longing Program
AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY
OPERA CO LEONARD COHEN / PHILIP GLASS
BOOK OF LONGING

"an audacious work with a massive magnetic pull"
- New York Times
This multi-dimensional performance combines poetry, music, images and text in a complex and intoxicating meeting of two musical icons: Leonard Cohen and Philip Glass.
Composed by Philip Glass and adapted from Cohen’s 2006 poetry collection Book of Longing, this genre-defying work stars Richard Piper (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) and features four singers, ensemble, eight instrumentalists and imagery. Described as "part-song-cycle, part cabaret, part-installation" Book of Longing is a work that explores romance, biography, balladry, the dharma, limericks and rhymes.
Glass is the long-reigning emperor of modern classical music. Cohen spent his career melding pop, folk and Euro-cabaret with his existential-meets-erotic confessional style. Here, they summon the best in each other with a work of feverish passion and wily humour, full of spiritual striving, romantic yearning and witty self parody.
Join us at The Edge – Fed Square for this audacious, magnetic and convention-busting performance.
Conducted by
CARLO ANTONIOLI
MSO Cybec Assistant Conductor 2022
Directed by
LINDA THOMPSON
with
RICHARD PIPER as the voice of Leonard Cohen
EMILY BURKE, soprano
DIMITY SHEPHERD, mezzo soprano
MARTIN BUCKINGHAM, tenor
CHRISTOPHER TONKIN, baritone
with
Caitlin Toohey, soprano*
Genevieve Droppert, mezzo soprano*
Alexandra Amerides, contralto*
Callum Warrener, tenor*
Daniel Felton, baritone*
*ACOCo Young Artist
Visuals by
ALICE EDY
Presented in partnership with


"I know she is coming
I know she will look
And that is the longing
And this is the book."
- Leonard Cohen (1934 - 2016)


Richard Piper
as 'the voice of Leonard'

Christopher Tonkin
Baritone

Emily Burke
Soprano

Carlo Antonioli
Conductor

Dimity Shepherd
Mezzo soprano

Linda Thompson
Director

Martin Buckingham
Tenor

Alice Edy
Live Drawing Artist
Young Artists

Caitlin Toohey
Soprano

Callum Andreas
Tenor

Genevieve Droppert
Mezzo soprano
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Daniel Felton
Baritone

Alexandra Amerides
Contralto
Orchestra

Theodore Pike
Keyboard
Percussion

Imogen Manins
Cello
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Stuart Byrne
Piccolo Flute
Alto Saxophone Clarinet

Nic Synot
Double Bass

Stephen Robinson
English horn
Oboe

Po Goh*
Keyboard

Susannah Ng
Violin

Jacob Abela
Keyboard