The BOOK OF LONGING

EVENT DESCRIPTION

A complex and intoxicating meeting of two musical legends: Philip Glass, one of the most significant contemporary composers in the classical music world, and the famous Canadian singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen. For over 6 years had the two talked about a collaboration of poetry and music. When Glass and Cohen came together in Los Angeles, Cohen read the whole manuscript of his poetry book, Book of Longing, to Glass. Glass found the poems “intensely beautiful, personal, and inspiring”, and proposed “an evening-length work of poetry, music and image based on this work.”

In 2007, Book of Longing was premiered. 22 of the 167 poems from the poetry book were set to music. It is a sampling of Cohen’s poems that touch on romance, biography, balladry, the dharma, limericks, and rhymes. Cohen called the work “Glassical”.

The Hong Kong Premiere, brought to life by two much sought-after artists, director Mo Lai Yan Chi and conductor Vivian Ip, seeks to transcend boundaries with a mesmerizing dialogue between music and theatre. Get away from the busy and stressful city life of Hong Kong, immerse yourself in a captivating exploration of profound longings and delve into the innermost cries of the soul.

10–11 May 2024 (Friday to Saturday)
8:00pm

12 May 2024 (Sunday)
2:30pm