A haunting work inspired by the painting of the same name, this composition is one of its most mystical and chilling interpretations. Evoking the dread and stillness of a ghostly crossing to a shrouded island, the immensely popular symphonic poem is steeped in late-Romantic imagery. Among Rachmaninoff"s most frequently recorded works, "The Island of the Dead" has been in the repertoire since its premiere in 1909.