Leonard Cohen opera

[MarciaLP]

LC & fans—I too am “tied to the post” of non-attachment—though I like to think of it as a hollow bamboo. And so I offer this up freely to you, fans, lovers, skeptics…all of us refugees of love’s grace. Five years ago I was so inspired by the beauty of your work I wrote an opera (a rock-opera, if a name must be given to it) devoted entirely to your music. It honors and celebrates via story, characters, sets, lighting, dance, images, your body of work. I sent it to your manager, at his request, and over a year later he confessed that he hadn’t looked at it or showed it to you as promised. I am only sorry that you didn’t get a chance to see what one of your fans created out of sheer love of your music. I think you would have recognized it as a kindred creation. At your concert in Seattle last November, I wrapped the opera up as a present (bow and all!) and got myself all the way down to the stage during your performance to give it to you personally, and nearly got myself arrested after being body-slammed against the wall to stop me. I convinced a security guard to give it to you personally but, alas!, it was probably dumped or forgotten. C’est la vie. C’est l’amour. As another bard sings: It’s all good. Thank you for your magnificent music and the gift of this inspiration!

[lizzytysh]

Hi Marcia ~

That's a sad tale of incompleteness.
My serious suggestion would be to send it again.
After all your work, it may take several times for Leonard to experience it.


~ Lizzy

[MarciaLP]

Thanks so much, Lizzy. The problem has been getting it to LC, which has proved impossible--he's had no chance to even know of it.

Yes, sad, perhaps, in the sense of bringing something out that might inspire others and bring more beauty into the world. And--so vital--connections between artists. But I don't feel sad--the work itself is such a reward, a joy, and real pride in the self-accomplishment; and many artists throughout history have worked and created lovely things that have never been appreciated, or even received, by the world. It's always the creation that really enriches us.

That's what I wanted to share. But thank you so much for your response; that means a lot.

Marcia

[rmorgan]

Dear Marcia,
Greetings. I just wondered if you might consider sharing your work with others who feel deeply about LC, as well as seeking to reach the the man himself?
If, as some sages believe, we are all connected, then perhaps we all share a little of LC's spirit together, and might appreciate your artistic creation.
With best wishes.

[MarciaLP]

Hi rmorgan,

Yes, I was thinking about that recently. I thought I might offer up one or two of the opera's scenes; though it would be out of context of the storyline and progressive character of the opera, like LC's songs, each scene can be experienced as universal and contains a story in itself. I'll let that sink a little bit and see what comes up as possible to share here.

It would please me to no end if LC read this opera but it wasn't my aim in writing it. It's for you, me, us--the public. I would hope and believe that LC would truly enjoy it, but I saw the opera as a way for any person (even the most foreign to LC's work) to experience his music, not just hear it but comprehend on a heart-level. Which is what theatre can give us, bypassing the intellect which tries to "understand" and going straight to the soul, so to speak, where we are altered, expanded by the total experience. His music is remarkable for this ability to transcend meaning.

thanks for the nudge--There's always tremulous hesitation in opening-up what you've so cared for into a more unknown, faceless arena.
Marcia

[lizzytysh]

I agree with rmorgan on that, Marcia.
Also, LOVE your last sentence in your middle paragraph.

[rmorgan]

Thank you Marcia. I know what you mean ... and you express it so well. And, yes, the "tremulous hesitation". Such a beautiful phrase. It's what I sometimes feel when posting a Cohen-infused poem here, too.

Warm regards, and thanks indeed for your consideration concerning the sharing of your work.

Richard

[fishfishquaileye]

Thank you Marcia. I know what you mean ... and you express it so well. And, yes, the "tremulous hesitation". Such a beautiful phrase. It's what I sometimes feel when posting a Cohen-infused poem here, too.

Warm regards, and thanks indeed for your consideration concerning the sharing of your work.

Ruthie

Thanks, Ruthie. Well spoken indeed

[MarciaLP]

rmorgan--

I came in to write to you specifically in appreciation of what and how you said what you did before... It was lovely, and not only apt re: fans in this environment, but eloquent, and true--and to ask you if your work was somewhere in here so that I can read it. Because after my last posting, I realized I'd been caught up in the rush of your suggestion and distracted from expressing my first response to what you said: the open spirit given. Thank you. I will look up your poems...

and then was blown away by more gracious words from you. I'm touched. Really appreciate them.

till then,
Marcia

(I will post an excerpt from the opera pretty soon, under a separate posting in this category.)

ps--THANKS, LIZZY!

[rmorgan]

Dear Marcia,

Thanks so much. Your words are equally kind and I too appreciate them deeply.

Yes, some of my poems are here on the Forum. I've been posting occasionally for the last two or three years. Some of the recent ones are somehow dark, because of a loss in my family. But I hope, at least, there is a crack in them where the light gets in ....

I hope too that all is well with you, and that your works of creation continue, and are pleasing to you. Your presence graces us here.

Warm good wishes. Richard

[MarciaLP]

Dear Richard,

I read your last three poetry posts. I’m really impressed, though I am far from a connoisseur of poetry. I’m just beginning to grasp its power, and Leonard Cohen’s songs opened a door there for me. That was one of my intentions in writing the opera, to possibly deliver the penetrating force and unique beauty of poetry within the (seemingly) safe enjoyment of a song.

I was so moved by “My Parasite.” I think it’s a very good poem. I hope it’s not pretentious to say that I feel you’re talented as a poet—you appear to have a natural gift for rhythm and meter, and this poem, as well as being beautiful, felt like a reckoning, gritty and deeply intelligent and absolutely original. It spoke to me like a koan: only comprehensible from within the inside of truth yet even as you read it you feel its depths and want to go there. I didn’t feel the same finality in “My Death” and “Something Warm,” as if they had a strong basis but needed more completion (I've found for myself that this is true when I haven't completed that emotion which inspired the piece), but there are lines that are magic: A rosy cross held to the face of my death/ and, I found dew by the sands of a land without rain/ and, In tearfilled voice by trembling sons. To heavens behind the hedge rows/ is so evocative and fresh. (Are you from England? I lived there for a few years.)

There’s such a musical trill to your poems, eloquent language, and a dignity. Precision too, in your choices. Anyway, I really enjoyed them. Thank you for them.

Marcia—

(I’ve been trying to post the Opera excerpt but the system won’t accept the Word attachment, and without the formatting in it, it would be too confusing to readers.)