There are people like former SZ editor-in-chief Kurt Kister who think that “almost everything you need in terms of philosophy and stuff like that can be found in Leonard Cohen”. The Canadian poet, songwriter and singer is therefore an influential figure far beyond music for certain generations. Which didn’t make the task any easier for the two actors Kathrin von Steinburg and Jakob Tögel to devote themselves to him in the sixth edition of the music series “A bow before…” performed by members of the Metropoltheater ensemble.
But the two moved in front of the eyes of the old OB and Metropol-Fördervereinsvorstand Christian Ude, his wife Edith Welser Ude or the second mayor Katrin habenschaden – it was probably also the case in the first premiere after the quarrels about the “Birds” production To show presence – more than remarkable from the affair. On the one hand, because they wisely unrolled the biography of the great bard, who died in 2016, using autobiographical quotes, and this, in accordance with their profession, very insistently. Because they chose an exciting middle ground between chronological and thematic narrative. Above all, because they knew how to convince musically.
It all began with Tögel’s perfectly humming Cohen voice, to which Steinburg’s youthfully bright timbre, which was equipped with surprising power especially in the highs, created a wonderful contrast. Continued with clever arrangements of the instruments (in addition to guitar and piano, Wersi and Casio organs, electric bass, percussion and glockenspiel were used) and the songs. And finally captivated with the selection of pieces that tell their own story. The inevitable “Hallelujah” encore would not have been necessary, the acclaimed evening was also very successful in terms of the gutting of the music-cultural memory that the series was aiming for.