Norman Lebrecht, Harry Freedman, Barb Jungr & Andrew Robinson discuss three of the greatest songwriters of all time .

Music journalist and author of Genius & Anxiety Norman Lebrecht is joined by an illustrious trio to discuss the lyrics, lives and legacy of three of the greatest songwriters of all time – and play some songs.

In Leonard Cohen: The Mystical Roots of Genius biographer and Jewish cultural expert Harry Freedman explores the sources the Canadian singer-songwriter drew on, including the Bible, Talmud and Kabbalah.

Singer and composer Barb Jungr has given her acclaimed versions of the songs of both Cohen and the newly octogenarian Bob Dylan throughout her career, including her Hard Rain album and tour, which The Independent described as ‘the North American songbook’s climax’ revealed by its greatest interpreter.

Einstein on the Run arts and sciences author Andrew Robinson celebrated Tom Lehrer’s 90th birthday with a noted Nature article, concluding that ‘his scathing creations remain one of the most original — not to mention mathematically elegant — bodies of artistic work to come out of the United States in the twentieth century’ .

In Association with the London Library 

Norman Lebrecht is the world’s bestselling author on classical music. His most recent book was the critically acclaimed Why Mahler? His Whitbread Award-winning novel, The Song of Names, is currently being developed into a feature film. Aside from the history of Western music, he has a lifelong passion for the culture and chronicles of the Jewish people. He lives in London.

Harry Freedman is Britain’s leading author of popular works of Jewish culture and history. His publications include The Talmud: A Biography, Kabbalah: Secrecy, Scandal and the Soul, The Murderous History of Bible Translations and The Gospels’ Veiled Agenda. He has written for the Guardian, Jewish Chronicle, Jewish Quarterly, Judaism Today and contributed to the Encyclopaedia of Modern Jewish Culture.

Barb Jungr is an award-winning international performer, recording artist, composer, lyricist, and writer. She is best known for her work interpreting the songs of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, and for creating the concept of The New American Songbook.

Andrew Robinson has written more than twenty-five books, including Einstein: A Hundred Years of Relativity, The Last Man Who Knew Everything, and Genius: A Very Short Introduction. He also contributes regularly to newspapers and magazines.