Final Two Reports from Norway - Good Friends at Bergen Concert + Halden Concert Report by Else Gundersen

August 30, 2012

Geoffrey Wren & Tom Bognoe (Bergen) 8/28

Else Konsmo Gundersen

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  Else “Elsie” Gundersen and “Marianne 1960"

  
  

  
  Halden concert report 8/29 (in part) 
  
  Bird on the Wire had me crying again this time, too - even if I missed Dino, it was still great and so heartfelt from Leonard. 

  
  

  Sharon was wonderful 

  
  

  - and the public behaved, no talking in the Golden Circle, everybody listened so hard that it hurt - and laughed and cried about it all. 

  
  

  I also found Banjo very good live, and I loved Night Comes On - it was moonlight by then.... well, I enjoyed every moment, to conclude:-)

  
  

  A bit chilly, a typical scarf occasion for Leonard and the girls. 

  
  

  I saw Marc Roed and his friend Hanne during the break... They were up front, I almost risked my life to get there;-)

  
  

  I did get some photos from Leonard's exhibition though. We spent an hour there, it was very interesting. And so we were in a hurry to reach the concert. Loooong queue, I was afraid we might not get there in time. 
  

  
  

  Leonard was late too, half an hour later than first announced. 

Thank you Else for your wonderful concert report.

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• Photo at the top: Tom Bognoe via Anne Riise 
• Photo of Else taken at the Galleri Ramfjord
•  For my Galleri Ramfjord report with Marianne in attendance and more photos of Leonard Cohen's artworks, click here
  

Geoffrey Wren, Talented Singing FRIEND Is Admired by Leonard Cohen for his Covers- Bergen Aug 28/12

August 30, 2012

Leonard (serious voice): "I see you covered some of my songs on Youtube."

Me (nervously): "You don't mind, do you?"

Leonard: Yes, I do. You should have covered them ALL!"

 ~

 From Geoffrey's concert report on the Leonard Cohen Forum:

from a computer in a bergen hotel reception area

i tried to leave you was the last song. he then said

goodnight my friends, i hope to see you all again down the road, until then goodnight.

excellent show. part #1 7.30 + 9.00. part #2 9.20 + 10.35. encore #1 10.35. encore #2 10.46. encore #3 11.00. finished 11.10.

unexpected highlight of show was sharon robinsons solo singing of alexander leaving. beautiful version. leonard translated the text from some greek guy and sharon put it to music, he said. she got electrifying applause and endless whistling for that song. hope it was recorded.

this computer has an unusual keyboard, so excuse bad writing. will be home thursday nite. g

~

Thank you Geoffrey for your timely Bergen concert report under difficult conditions. And congratulations on the memorable photo and wonderful exchange with Leonard Cohen.

Here is one of my favourite LC covers by Geoffrey  - Tonight Will Be Fine

Rafael Gayol Takes Photos of 11,00 FRIENDS at Leonard Cohen Concert, Bergen Koengen, Aug 28/12

August 30, 2012

2nd row (L) Ove & Grete Laastad
2nd row (R) Amund & Liv Fjose, Tone Andreassen, Ole Roar Ekestad

FRIENDS "R" Us

Rafael Gayol snaps photos "from the other side" when Leonard Cohen runs on stage and greets the crowd of 11,000 with:

Thank you so much FRIENDS

Thank you so much for coming

I've noticed Rafael taking these photos on stage before. He must have a great collection..

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How some FRIENDS behaved:

From an ongoing conversation on Facebook during real time media coverage of the Bergen concert (with permission):

 I was so irritated and upset to learn that (some) people keep talking during the concert.... so disturbing that a woman cried out Be quiet now, dammit! at the start of Partisan:

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Thanks to Norwegian FRIEND, Anne Riise for the media links.
Rafael Gayol and crowd photos: nrk.no
Individual FRIENDS: photo:  ba.no
2nd row (L) Ove & Grete Laastad
2nd row (R) Amund & Liv Fjose, Tone Andreassen, Ole Roar Ekestad