PhilipGlass recycles Leonard Cohen'spoetry atlincoln Center BY MICHAEL G,TLTZ, omposerPhilip Glassis performing a concertpiece built around the poems of Leonard Cohenat Lincoln Center next Saturdayand Sunday.Cohen, the acclaimedCanadianpoet and singe4 has a prior commitment and won't be able to attend l'Book of Longing," named afterhis best-selling 2006collection of poems. But evenif he were free, Glasssays he wouldn't have a clue as to whether Cohenwould show up or not. The show will incorporate musicians (including Glass),four singers, and Cohen'sartwork, along with taped recordingsof Co- hen reading his poetry.But Cohenhimself won't pedorm. That mysteriousaura has been a constantin the rela- piece,a style Cohenhas dubbed"Glassic." "He's at awonderful place in his life where he does tionship betweenthe two for almost 25 years.In 1984, It's a good moment for Cohen, who's recovering whatever he damn well feels like," saysGlass fondly Glassset a poem of Cohen'sto music as part of Que- fromrm financial mismanagement that reportedlyreportedlv left him about Cohen."He doesn't do anything - as far as I can bec's 3S0th-anniversaryeelebration. He sent it off to get nearly bankrupt, despitea world-renowned music cata- tell - to pleasepeople. He doesthings to pleasehimself." permission,and the permissioncame ... but not a word logue. His prot6g6 and partner Anjani Thomasreleased It's not selfishnesson Cohen'spart, just a realization from Cohenhimself. Did he like it? Did he hate it?'Did her collaborationwith Cohen,"Blue Light," last year. at age 72 and a lifetime of acclaim that he should focus he evenheor it? Glasssimply didn't know. And on Aug. 7, Jennifer Warneswill issuea 20th-anni- on what's best for him. So tell Cohenit would be great if Almost a decadeago, they begandiscussing this cur- versary edition of Cohen's"Famous Blue Raincoat." he showedup for a certain event and he'll nod sagelyand rent collaboration.Then Cohen disappeared,becoming Glass,of course,is alwaysbusy. Now 70, he's tour- seemto agree,but not actually say anything. a monk, studying under a master and abandoningcon- ing with "Book of Longing,"just enjoyeda revival of his temporary life for some five years while ensconcedin a Gandhi opera "Satyagraha"in London (it comesto the Zen monasteryon Mount Baldy in Southern California. Met next year), has severalfilm scoresdue including Cohen "plays it down a lot, sayshe wasn't great in WoodyAllen's new "Cassandra'sDream," and debuts the 'renunciation department,"' saysGlass, a long- his opera "Appomattox" in San Franciscoin October. time NewYorker who was famously driving a cab in And viewers of a recent Paul Sirion tribute on PBS saw 1976when his ground-breakingopera "Einstein on the Glass'instrumental take on "The Soundsof Silence." Beach"was being performed at the Met. "But he did live Which brings up more unfinished Cohenbusiness. like a monk. It takes courageto do that. I don't have it." "I've known Paul a longtime and I discoveredhe and Now they've finally come together,pushing singers Leonard don't know eachother, and I'm going to fix from the world of opera,Broadway and cabaretto de- . that," saysGlass. "They should know eachother, and velop a distinctive style of singing for this particular they will, if I have anything to do with it." t.