The Music of Leonard Cohen. A Journey - 1967 to 2016

Imperfect Offering presents a full programme of the music of Leonard Cohen. With a full nine-piece band including five vocalists, violin and even balalaika, Imperfect Offering will lead you on a life journey from Cohen's first album in 1967 to his last in 2016 released just weeks before his death. With a story that spans from a Jewish upbringing in Montreal, through Greek Island life with his muse Marianne to New York’s artist hang-out Chelsea Hotel to a Zen Buddhist sanctuary on Mount Baldy, Imperfect Offering will present the best songs from this journey.

Imperfect Offering was formed by lead singer Peter McMillan in 2014 from established rock, jazz and classical musicians. In 2018 Imperfect Offering performed in soldout shows to standing ovations on a tour of North Island. Venues have included Ascension Wine Estate Matakana, Q Theatre Auckland City, St Andrews on the Terrace Wellington, Meteor Theatre Hamilton, MTG Century Theatre Napier and the Concert Chamber of the Auckland Town Hall.

Imperfect Offering includes five singers, violin and even balalaika. They appeared on TVNZ News on the event of Cohen’s death in November 2016 and was selected to be represented on the official Leonard Cohen website Cohencentric. Their growing repertoire includes the astonishing “Hallelujah”, “Suzanne”, “Chelsea Hotel”, “The Future”, “Bird on the Wire” and songs from Cohen's extraordinary last album You Want it Darker. Audiences have said:

”Utterly blown away - exquisite violin - stunning arrangements sometimes better than the originals - wow, just wow”

“Fantastic night plus a full house and standing ovation.”

“Makes the spirits soar!”

The name Imperfect Offering is inspired by Cohen’s ‘Anthem’.

"Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.”