Leonard Cohen has played his first US concert in 15 years. He returned to the American stage with a two-set, three-hour long performance that the artist himself called "a memorable evening". The 74-year-old Montreal-born singer, poet and novelist drew countless standing ovations after the show at New York's Beacon Theatre.

"Fifteen years ago, I was 60 years old," he says. "Since then I've taken a lot of Prozac, Paxil ... [and] Tylenol."
Accompanied by a six-piece band and three backup singers he played his best-known songs, including "Suzanne," "Bird on the Wire" and "Hallelujah," for three hours spanning his 40-year-recording career. The Beacon Theater show was a preview of Cohen's recently announced North American tour, which begins on April 2 and ends on June 2.

While Cohen has a reputation for great seriousness due to the grace and depth of his poetry, he's always been a cut- up at heart. Cohen's performance this night highlighted humor a key part of his enduring art. Of course, words - glorious words - took a lot of the attention this night. Performing the poem "A Thousand Kisses Deep," he paused knowingly on the line: "I'm old but I'm still into that" prompting the crowd to erupt into whoops and applause.
A highlight of the show was when he delivered a very stirring performance of 'Hallelujah.' In addition, his backup singers took a turn on lead vocals: Sharon Robinson sang 'Boogie Nights,' and Hattie and Charley Webb performed 'If It Be Your Will.'

Most importantly, Cohen seems to be enjoying himself, watching each member of his 9-piece band intently as they deliver their solos, offering his gratitude. Ever the gentleman, the dapper, suit-clad Cohen removed his hat for each of his backing musicians and introduced the entire band not once, but twice.

The singer concluded his successful concert with these words to an excited audience: "May you be surrounded by friends and families. If you have none of these, may the blessings find your solitude."

Cohen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. He rose to fame in the 1960s with songs about sex, faith and betrayal performed in a deep baritone he once described in a song as "the gift of a golden voice."

He retreated to a California monastery in the 1990s to study Zen, but "cheerfulness kept breaking through," he told the crowd. Cohen resurfaced in 2005, claiming that his former manager and lover Kelley Lynch had misappropriated more than $5 million, reducing his retirement account to $150,000.
These events placed him in the public spotlight, including a cover feature on him with the headline "Devastated!" in Canada's Maclean's magazine. In March 2006, Cohen won the civil suit and was awarded US $9 million by a Los Angeles County superior court. Lynch, however, ignored the suit and did not respond to a subpoena issued for her financial records. As a result it has been widely reported that Cohen may never be able to collect the cash. Cohen has been under new management since April 2005.