Isle of the Dead at the OSM
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) presents
Isle of the Dead
To celebrate Halloween, let yourself be swept away by the dark and sumptuous melodies of Rachmaninov’s Isle of the Dead, accompanied by the mesmerizing film projection by Lucas van Woerkum: an audiovisual journey where fantasy and dread meet in a dazzling fashion. The unbridled virtuosity of Liszt’s Totentanz (Dance of Death), performed by Godwin Friesen, winner of the 2022 OSM Competition, will add a chilling brilliance, illustrating the eternal struggle between life and death. An evening of thrills and mystery, followed by festivities at the Maison symphonique.
Schedule
8:30pm – Concert with film projection of Isle of the Dead
9:30pm – “Spooky Jazz” Halloween party in the Foyers, featuring the band Inspirationz. Enchanting atmosphere guaranteed!
A complimentary cocktail will be offered at the Maison symphonique bars, courtesy of the Distillerie de Montréal. Limited quantities – first come, first served!
Artists
Dina Gilbert, associate conductor
Regularly invited to conduct in Canada and internationally, Dina Gilbert attracts critical acclaim for her energy, her precision and versatility. Known for her contagious dynamism and her audacious programming, she is currently the Music Director and Conductor of the Walla Walla Symphony, the Principal Conductor of the Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and the Associate Conductor of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.
Dina Gilbert is passionate about communicating with audiences of all ages to broadening their appreciation of orchestral music through innovative collaborations. This commitment, as well as Dina Gilbert’s extensive knowledge of repertoire has shaped her career and the orchestras she has worked with.
Dina has conducted leading Canadian orchestras such as Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, the Orchestre métropolitain, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic and the Orchestre symphonique de Québec. She is frequently invited to conduct in France and also has conducted orchestras in the United States, Colombia, Spain and the Sinfonia Varsovia for a series of concerts in Japan
Lucas van Woerkum, filmmaker
Lucas van Woerkum directs drama films based on symphonic music and directs music documentaries. He studied French horn at Fontys Conservatory Tilburg and graduated in 2004 from the directing program of the Utrecht School of the Arts with the documentary film Mahler: Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen, which he made in close collaboration with internationally known filmmaker Frank Scheffer. His graduation film premiered in the Holland Festival and was shown in the Auditorium of the Louvre Museum in Paris. In 2007 he was selected by the Dutch Filmfund to direct the fiction film To Anna, which was released on television and in cinemas. Next to that Lucas directed music documentaries for television on the composers Arvo Pärt, Willem Jeths, Michel van der Aa and Alfons Diepenbrock.
Mathieu Roy, lighting conception
Godwin Friesen, piano
Godwin Friesen is a pianist and composer from the Canadian Prairies, exuberantly discovering where a life in music can take him. Winning the nationwide Concours OSM (Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal) in 2022 has led to several collaborations with the leading orchestra of his current hometown of Montréal. Meanwhile, first prize and audience prize in the 2023 Trondheim International Competition with the Rilian Trio (Daniel Dastoor, violin, and David Liam Roberts, cello) have opened doors to professional trio engagements in Europe and across Canada.
Program
Paul Dukas, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (12 min)
The Phantom of the Opera (excerpts) (5 min)
Franz Liszt, Totentanz, S. 126 (17 min)
Sergei Rachmaninoff, Isle of the Dead (20 min) with screening
Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 8:30pm
Maison symphonique
To purchase your tickets, visit: www.placedesarts.com Hurry, only a few tickets remain!