Leonard Cohen at Radio City Music Hall

Leonard Cohen stepped onstage at Radio City Music Hall last night looking akin to Junior Soprano, wearing a black suit and fedora. He’s 74 years old, and before last year had not toured since 1994. After kicking off with the waltzy “Dance Me to the End of Love,” Cohen received several standing ovations during the next three-plus hours.

Cohen went for a layered live sound, similar to contemporaries Bob Dylan and Van Morrison. But while those performers often let the band do the heavy lifting, Cohen tried to rise above them with his voice and Sinatra-like confidence.

An early highlight was the sax-laden “Ain’t No Cure for Love.” Like most songs, he began kneeling, one fist clenched, eyes closed, two large video screens zooming in on each dramatic moment.

He appeared to live in each number. His creased face and weathered voice helped him convincingly take on a variety of personas; he was a crooner in “Ain’t No Cure For Love,” a guilty swinger in “My Secret Life” and a nostalgic balladeer in “So Long, Marianne.”

Cohen’s live numbers were far slicker than his stripped-down early recordings. His nine-piece band included keyboards, 12-string guitar, wind instruments and female backup singers. It was produced, but the dynamics gave his songs new depth. Cohen acted as cordial leader, switching between acoustic guitar and keyboard.

Band members were individually showcased. Javier Mas provided a captivating 12-string classical-flamenco flourishes during “The Gypsy’s Wife.” Late in the show backup singers Charley and Hattie Webb sang a good part of “If It Be Your Will,” harmonizing while playing acoustic guitar and harp.

During his second set, Cohen’s signature “Hallelujah” built and built. Afterward he brought the house quiet when with poetry behind string sounds during “Recitation w/ N.L.” The show ended with a marathon that included “Closing Time” and “I Tried to Leave You.”

The illusive Cohen broke character a few times. After the audience applauded his simplistic organ solo in “Tower of Song,” he smiled. “You’re very kind,” he said, with a hint of sarcasm.