Symphony847’s “Paintings Composed” Brings Art to Life Through Music This Saturday

What happens when composers translate paintings into music?

On Saturday, May 23, Symphony847 will present Paintings Composed, an ambitious orchestral program exploring the deep relationship between visual art and sound.

Held in Vernon Hills, the concert features three works inspired directly by paintings and imagery:

• Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition
• Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Isle of the Dead
• Stella Sung’s Rockwell Reflections

Together, the program transforms galleries, landscapes, and visual storytelling into immersive orchestral experiences.

For Symphony847 Music Director Christopher Ramaekers, the concert represents more than a standard symphonic program.

This is not just a concert. It’s a translation of art across mediums.

Mussorgsky’s Famous Musical Gallery

Perhaps the best-known work on the program is Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, one of the most celebrated orchestral works ever written.

Composed in 1874 after visiting a memorial exhibition honoring artist and architect Viktor Hartmann, the work transforms paintings into vivid musical scenes. Each movement depicts a different artwork:

• a grotesque gnome
• children quarreling in a Paris garden
• an ancient castle
• underground catacombs
• the legendary witch Baba Yaga
• and finally, The Great Gate of Kiev

Connecting the movements is the famous “Promenade” theme, representing the listener walking through the gallery itself.

The piece concludes with one of orchestral music’s most monumental finales — a massive sonic depiction of Hartmann’s imagined gate.

It’s thrilling music. The ending is one of the most electrifying experiences in the orchestral repertoire.

Stella Sung and the Stories Behind Norman Rockwell

The concert also features contemporary composer Stella Sung’s Rockwell Reflections, inspired by five paintings by Norman Rockwell.

Ahead of the concert, Ramaekers interviewed Sung for a Symphony847 podcast episode discussing the work and her process of turning visual art into orchestral storytelling.

Sung explained that she approached each painting not simply as an image, but as a narrative challenge.

One movement explores Rockwell’s nostalgic Americana, while another focuses on a striking civil rights image far removed from the warmth many associate with the painter’s work.

The full interview is available on Symphony847’s YouTube channel.

WATCH THE PODCAST:
https://youtu.be/zp4sTaAcxYk

Rachmaninoff’s Haunting “Isle of the Dead”

The program opens with Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Isle of the Dead, inspired by Arnold Böcklin’s mysterious painting depicting a shadowed island approached by a lone boat.

The music evokes the slow rowing motion of the vessel while weaving fragments of the ancient Dies irae chant throughout the score.

Dark, cinematic, and emotionally intense, the work stands as one of Rachmaninoff’s most atmospheric orchestral compositions.

A Concert Built Around Artistic Connection

For Symphony847, Paintings Composed continues the organization’s focus on thoughtful thematic programming and audience engagement.

The concert follows the ensemble’s recent chamber event, Colors in Motion, which explored Impressionist-inspired music in an intimate setting.

By pairing contemporary and classical works together, Symphony847 aims to show audiences how artistic ideas continue to connect across generations.

Great programming allows pieces to speak to each other. It’s not just about old music versus new music. It’s about creating connections.

Event Information

Paintings Composed

Saturday, May 23, 2026
7:30 PM

Vernon Hills High School, 145 Lakeview Pkwy, Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Tickets and information:
https://link.symphony847.org/Paintings26