Cohen tribute makes its way to Ulumburra Theatre

GYPSY fusion band Monsieur Camembert will bring its acclaimed Leonard Cohen production to the Ulumburra Theatre on Friday 1 August.

Titled Cohen Noir – The Beauty, Mystery and Romance of Leonard Cohen, the show has played to sold-out audiences in Sydney and at international festivals, celebrating the music, poetry and spirit of the Canadian singer-songwriter.

The newly reimagined production is a rebranding of the ensemble’s The Leonard Cohen Show.

The celebrated 10-piece group, which has won three ARIA awards, will be joined by guest vocalists Rebecca Barnard, Rob Snarski, Nine Ferro and Canadan-born Brian Campeau, along with a 40-voice choir.

Cohen Noir… reimagines Cohen’s iconic songs through a range of styles rarely – if ever – associated with his work, from swing, jazz and tango, to Latin, klezmer and more.

Drawing on material that spans 35 years, Monsieur Camembert’s original arrangements are interwoven with excerpts of Cohen’s poetry and rare audio of the man himself.

It has presented its tribute to Cohen at the City Recital Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and most recently the State Theatre in 2024.

The band has also featured at Canada’s Leonard Cohen Festival and released an album of the Leonard Cohen show, titled Famous Blue Cheese, in 2007.

Monsieur Camembert was formed in Sydney in 1997. Its music covers a linguistic repertoire of English, Hebrew, Yiddish and Russian.

Its recorded catalogue features five albums and its ARIA successes have been for Best World Music Album in 2002 for Live On Stage, Absynthe (in 2003), and the self-titled Monsieur Camembert (in 2005).

Show time on 1 August will be 7.30pm and tickets, priced at $99, are available at bendigoregion.com.au/arts-culture-theatres/event/cohen-noir.

The Bendigo date will be followed by shows at the National Theatre in St Kilda on 2 August and the West Gippsland Arts Centre on 3 August.