A haunting work inspired by the painting of the same name, this composition is one of its most mystical and chilling interpretations. Symphonic Poem after the painting by Arnold Bocklin. 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.