Musical Director: David McGauran
Song Writer: Leonard Cohen
Ireland’s prestigious National Concert Hall on Earlsfort Terrace is a worthy venue to host West-End singer Amy Creighton’s sold-out tribute to Leonard Cohen on the 90th anniversary of his birth.
We assemble in The John Field Room, just past the foyer entrance. While there is a significant multi generational fanbase for Cohen’s music, we are definitely of the long-standing variety tonight. The space, named for Dublin’s Romantic era composer and pianist, is perfectly suited to the intimate performance.
Creighton, beautiful in a red evening dress, is joined on the small stage by musical director, pianist and saxophonist, David McGauran, percussionist, Paul Byrne and Michael Riordan on double bass. Cathal Donohue is the production’s lighting designer with producer, Jody Trehy on sound.
Accustomed as we are to the lower register of Cohen’s gravelly, growling vocals we are caught slightly off-guard, initially, to hear Dance Me to the End of Love sung in Creighton’s warm, velvety tones. She is a mezzo-soprano to his baritone-bass and I am reminded of Cohen’s friend and collaborator, Jennifer Warnes 1987 album Famous Blue Raincoat, where she sang her own interpretations of Cohen’s songs.
Bird on a Wire and That’s No Way to Say Goodbye follow and in short order we are utterly absorbed in the familiar folk rock/pop melodies and the poetic sensibilities of the Canadian legends’ words and imagery.
There is magic in the room when the ensemble plays Take This Waltz. Akin to Song for Bernadette and Tower of Song, the tracks were either co-written or vocally arranged with lyrical soprano Jennifer Warnes and are ideally suited to Creighton’s voice. There is a wonderful synergy between these accomplished musicians. They blend their individual sounds so smoothly and effortlessly, it elevates the whole. Their rapport is reminiscent of that between Vanessa Paradis and her band when she performed Be My Baby live at The Palace of Versailles’ Opera House in 2010
With feeling, Creighton leads us into Anthem, and by the time the jazzy, bluesy strains of I’m Your Man ring out, a smattering of people have moved from swaying gently in their seats and silently mouthing the words to cutting a rug in the aisles.
After a resounding delivery of Closing Time and Hallelujah, where everyone sings along, the audience is on its feet for a standing ovation. The enthusiastic applause is so appreciative and sustained, we’re treated to an encore. Creighton and her band raise the roof with their soulful rendition of So Long, Marianne, Cohen’s heart breaking goodbye to his great love and muse. The poet, writer and songster passed away just three months after her death in 2016.
This has been a marvellous evening’s entertainment in a truly special venue. If Amy Creighton and her band return to sing Leonard Cohen at The National Concert Hall anytime soon, don’t just walk to see it, run!
Reviewed on 16th July 2025.
