Collage of art forms: Wong composed the music for the multimedia show entitled “Longing”.

LONGING, a multimedia concert featuring a fusion of art forms, is all set to enthrall Malaysian audiences when it is staged this Feb 18 at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac), Sentul Park, Kuala Lumpur.

The performance, which is a creative collaboration by Norwegian and South-East Asian artistes, combines digital set design, new music written for a classical string quartet, and contemporary dance.

Longing will be staged for the first time in Kuala Lumpur, after premiering at the Bodø Music Festival, Norway two years ago.

The concert is a collaboration featuring Malaysian music composer Adeline Wong, the T’ang Quartet of Singapore, and Norwegian talents in the form of solo cellist Ørnulf Lillebjerka, dancer Kristin Holand, visual artist Are Andreassen, sound designer Are Simonsen, director Stein Elvestad and producer Knut Skoglund.

Wong likened watching the concert to watching a film with live music and performances.

“It expresses the feeling of longing, and it is up to the individual how they interpret the show,” she said.

“The concert is a performance that portrays aspiration in a universal sense, where cultures and backgrounds know no boundaries.”

Wong said the project was inspired by the novel Wayfarers written by Norwegian author Knut Hamsun.

It is based on the fascination of the book’s main character, August, as he travels to Bakindien — stretching from Java to Sri Lanka.

One-night performance: Longing is a multimedia concert that combines a digital set design, new music written for a classical string quartet.

Being an optimist, his travels are filled with adventure and hope, centred on eight keys to eight chests.

“The digital projections comprise visual images created by Andreassen, portraying the various aspects of August’s travels, while the dancer depicts the human aspect of the performance as she expresses her longing for the safe return of the traveller.

“I met Andreassen through Lillebjerka, a solo cellist who used to perform with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed a few orchestral works of mine,” said Wong, adding that she created a short solo cello passage written specifically to suit Lillebjerka’s style.

“Andreassen and I exchanged ideas via email correspondence and the whole production came together when I spent 10 days in Nordland, during which I worked with him and the rest of the production team for the world premiere performance of Longing (originally titled Lengt in the Norwegian language).”

On what the audience could expect, Wong said they would be able to enjoy a collage of art forms — visual, music, dance and electronics, thus effecting a complete stimulation of the senses.

“The premiere in Norway was well received, and enjoyed by a wide range of audience,” she said.

Wong added that there would be an exhibition of Andreassen’s original works at KLPac’s Pentas 1 foyer, which could be viewed before the concert.

Longing is presented by Nordlandia/ Southeast Asia Art Company and supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

Tickets for the 8.30pm concert are priced at RM60, RM45 and RM35 for adults and RM25 for students (limited concessions for walk-ins only).

For ticket bookings and details, visit www.klpac.org or call 03-4047 9000.

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