leonardcohenforum.com

Goldin wrote:Hurrah, hurrah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2kIio3MxhY
Complete broadcast @ the channel of Fundación Príncipe de Asturias.

Reuters

3:51 p.m. EDT, October 19, 2011



Singer, Poet Leonard Cohen to Release New Album

MADRID, Oct 19 - Renowned Canadian singer-songwriter and
poet Leonard Cohen said on Wednesday he had recorded his first

Cohen told journalists in the northern Spanish town of
Oviedo, where he had travelled to collect Spain's top award for
authors who do not write in Spanish, that "Old Ideas" consisted
of ten previously unpublished tracks.

"I've played it for a few people, and they seem to like it,"
the 77-year-old said in his trademark gravelly voice.

"God willing," Cohen said when asked if he planned to go on
tour again. "I never quite know whether there's going to be a
tour or not."

The writer and singer of "Suzanne", "Hallelujah", "Chelsea
Hotel No. 2" and other hits apologised for cancelling a concert
in Valencia in 2009 after he fainted, and said he would be
delighted to appear in the eastern city again.

Cohen won the Principe de Asturias Prize for literature in
June. Past winners include German Nobel Laureate Guenther Grass
and U.S. playwright Arthur Miller.

The Montreal native also spoke of his deep admiration for
Spanish culture and said he had named his daughter Lorca, after
Federico Garcia Lorca, Spain's most famous 20th century poet,
who was summarily shot by supporters of a military uprising in
1936 which started the Spanish Civil War.

Cohen first read Lorca when he was a teenager.

"He was the first poet that invited me to live in his
world," Cohen said.

"His landscape was extremely familiar to me. It was a
landscape that was very close to silence, a landscape that arose
out of the struggle with silence, which I myself was struggling
with at the time."

The writer said he still found writing hard work.

"You know, when you're writing, you're always an absolute
beginner. Each time you take up your guitar or sit by a blank
page, you start from scratch. It's a struggle."

The Asturias Foundation awards eight prizes every year for
fields ranging from science to the arts. Winners get 50,000
euros ($69,000) and a statue by Catalan artist Joan Miro.
($1 = 0.725 Euros)

(Reporting by Jaime Ortiz; Writing by Martin Roberts; Editing
by Andrew Heavens)

Copyright © 2011, Reuters

Goldin wrote:Hurrah, hurrah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2kIio3MxhY
Complete broadcast @ the channel of Fundación Príncipe de Asturias.

jarkko wrote: Robert Kory was in the audience with the Spanish media people.

AWARDS | Prince of Asturias Awards

Cohen, Moved To Tears By The Tribute of Spanish Musicians



Lucía González | Oviedo
Updated Thursday 10/20/2011 00:41 hours

The gratitude of Leonard Cohen, Prince of Asturias Prize for Literature 2011 , the tribute to his poetry and music led by Spanish musicians like Nacho Vegas, the singer Duquende and guitarist Javier Mas on his last tour, came to tears at the end the act in the Jovellanos Theatre when all the participants sang, accompanied by the clapping of the audience, 'So long, Marianne.'

First in the dark with the lights and then announcing his departure, the poet, musician and storyteller dried his tears at the more than 700 people in the show. Genius, teacher and idol, he was called from a scenario that Cohen, who hours earlier had confirmed that it will publish new album , did not tread. She watched from a box to Laura Garcia Lorca, niece of his admired poet, who described him as "the best ambassador" who has had Lorca. "The life of a poem continues with each translation." Little Viennese Waltz "belongs to Cohen through his 'Take this waltz' and in the same chain, but to all those who have heard the extraordinary sense of identification produce works of art, "said the descendant of Granada. [ Cohen-Spain connection ]

A tribute ingredients that justifies special thanks of the American artist, 77, to be awarded "in the land of Lorca, Machado and Morente" . There was no lack of Spanish guitar, took care of it But he and other musicians accompanied the voices of the Webb Sisters, who also participated in the last 'tour' of Cohen, versioning issues such as' Dance me to the end of love ', the voice that brought the Webb Sisters, who also accompanied Cohen in his last direct. Then the singer Duquende became flamenco 'Nana del caballo grande', Lorca, and "The Gypsy's Wife" , in Cohen.

The generations of musicians who feel indebted to Cohen was represented by Asturian musicians Nacho Vegas-songwriter's award-winning fan is visceral, which has always cited as a reference of his music-Montse Alvarez (of Nosoträsh) and Mar Alvarez (Pauline Beach). Vegas reached for humor to explain Cohen's music had to cross three times in his life to dial. At 13 he did not like it. I saw an interview on the television program Rockopop and thought "a man very serious black suit. I thought, does not sing, he's talking . " Three years later, the Spaniard's father asked him to record a demo, the first music I made ​​Vegas with his friends, and "as they were with those 90-minute tape, which also tuck Cohen album." Another three years after his father died and found that tape in his possession. It was 'Songs of Leonard Cohen', the first Canadian album, released in 1968. "That's when I heard that record several times a day for weeks," he said.

The event was projected first part of the documentary "Songs from the road '. The tribute also included Andres Amoros, who performed a reading of some of his poems translated into Castilian as "Hey, That's not way to say goodbye" and "Sisters of Mercy ', and also attended by Irish guitarist Glen Hansard.

The Youth Choir of the Prince of Asturias became the final grade. Cohen had left his box, but appeared to take off once again hats off to your audience. Did not need to even open my mouth to bathe in applause. It sounded a great version of 'Hallelujah' and the musician was again excited.

Emotional tribute to Leonard Cohen in Gijón
By: ThinkSpain , Thursday, October 20, 2011

LC tribute pic.jpg (11.36 KiB) Viewed 9922 times

A packed Jovellanos Theatre in Gijón tonight paid homage to Leonard Cohen's music and poetry in an emotional tribute concert featuring a host of national and international stars.

Two days before the Canadian singer, songwriter, poet and novelist is officially awarded the 2011 Prince of Asturias prize for writing, the theatre in Gijón gave Cohen a warm reception and a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes, which Cohen acknowledged by raising his hat to the crowd.

The tribute began with "Backstage Sketch", a short video by Lorca Cohen, the Canadian artist's daughter, and included a documentary "Songs from the road", in which all the members of Cohen's band related their experiences of life on the road with the great man.

Professor Andrés Amorós, a member of the Prince of Asturias prize jury, recited a number of Cohen's poems and songs, translated into Spanish, accompanied by guitars and the voices of the "Webb Sisters".

Amorós said: "His poetry has taken us to the most absolute sadness, melancholy, and to tenderness. The curious thing is, that when he talks about himself, he talks about all of us, it's just that we don't know how to express it like he does".

Laura García Lorca, niece of the poeta Federico García Lorca, also paid homage to Cohen, calling him "the best ambassador" her uncle could have in the world. She expressed her "gratitude and emotion" to Cohen for having brought her uncle's poetry to so many people.

Thanking the public with repeated gestures of gratitude, Cohen was visibly moved by the end of the event.