What happens when a fantastic pianist, a fabulous string quartet and an amazing choir get together? They shine a light on how deeply, evocative music can strike at our heartstrings. Ola Gjeilo’s “Luminous Music of the Night” is a feature work for the Island Consort’s fall program. The string quartet are players from the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra and the pianist is young musical phenom, Liam Pistor – who will also feature as guest soloist to play works by Chopin and Brahms.

“Luminous Music of the Soul” is a program that breathes life into classical choral repertoire for the audience to enjoy. Beginning with an English madrigal, it comprises an adaptation of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, “Benedictus” – from a mass by Canadian, Tim Corlis, a re-imagination of Panis Angelicus, and works by Randall Thompson, Anton Bruckner, Gabriel Faure and Michael Snelgrove. The program ends with three ‘seasonal’ songs, as a nod to Christmas; Gloucester Wassail, Deck the Halls, and the premiere of “When Shiloh Came”; a lovely piece written by Island Consort’s Randall Donald.