Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) the national romantic and Olav Anton Thommessen (1946-) the modernist
come together here in the tale of "Haugtussa" and her life, her love and her path through the Underworld
to redemption. The story of Veslemøy - or Haugtussa - has literary parallels to Dante's "Divina
Commedia" and Pushkin's "Eugene Onegin", and is one of the greatest works of Norwegian literature.
Thommessen has helped himself to many of Grieg's compositions: From "Norwegian Folk Songs", "Peasant
Dances", his chamber music and several of the lyrical pieces; adapting it, extending it, deleting it and following
it through in a way that contribute to the scope of Garborg's poetry. Thommessen's musical collage is given an
intense and gripping performance by Marianne Beate Kielland and Nils Anders Mortensen.