In the time of chimpanzees he was a monkey, but now, after 30-plus years of practice, practice, practice, Beck has made it to Carnegie Hall. “This is a good-sounding room,” he deadpanned on Tuesday night, during the second of two performances at the fabled venue. “It sounds pretty good. I’ve come a long way.”

In addition to his longtime backing band — guitarist-bassist Jason Falkner, keyboardist Roger Manning, and drummer Joey Waronker — Beck was joined by the 73-member Orchestra of St. Luke’s and conductor Edwin Outwater for cinematic renditions of his most moody,...