Leonard Cohen’s memorable appearances in Victoria included a concert at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on April 21, 2009.
After his concert, he autographed a handcrafted soup bowl that later helped raise money for the Victoria Youth Empowerment Society at the 12th annual Souper Bowls of Hope event at the Empress Hotel.
“It’s been about 15 years since I was singing in Victoria. I was about 60 years old, just a kid with a crazy dream,” he told a sold-out crowd during his comeback concert tour.
When Cohen stepped onto the stage at the same venue for his next Victoria concert, on Nov. 30, 2010, he got a standing ovation.
He was back for another sold-out concert on March 6, 2013, where he deadpanned: “I go to the mirror, I look at my melancholy face. And I say to myself, ‘Lighten up, Cohen, for Christ’s Sake.’ ”
Before wrapping up his final concert appearance in Victoria he told fans: “I don’t know when we’ll meet again.”
Last year, the Belfry Theatre staged a tribute to Cohen titled Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen featuring Jonathan Gould, who stars in I Think I’m Fallin’: The Songs of Joni Mitchell that opened Thursday.
