Massey Hall is the site of tonight’s celebration of Cohen’s accomplishments and the latest acknowledgement of his work – The Glenn Gould Prize Gala Concert in Honour of Leonard Cohen.
As the official press release explains,
The Glenn Gould Prize, valued at $50,000 (CDN), has been referred to as “The Nobel Prize of the Arts” and is awarded biennially to a living individual for a unique lifetime contribution that has enriched the human condition through the arts.
Cohen will not only accept the Glenn Gould Prize but will also present the associated City of Toronto Glenn Gould Protégé Prize of $15,000 (CDN) to Sistema Toronto, a program that offers free, intensive music education to children from culturally diverse neighbourhoods.
Tonight’s program will be hosted by Colm Feore and features Anjani Thomas, Basia Bulat, Adam Cohen, Cowboy Junkies, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, James McMurtry, Gordon Pinsent with Travis Good & Greg Keelor (Blue Rodeo), John Prine, and Serena Ryder. Guest speakers and readers include The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Melissa Auf der Maur, Michael Ondaatje and Alan Rickman. The Musical Director is Neil Larsen.
As of yesterday, tickets were still available.
Credit Due Department: Photos by Arlene Dick of Arlene’s Leonard Cohen Scrapbook.
