Music with Multimedia by Geff Strik

Verklärte Nacht

A live musical performance of Arnold Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht accompanied by a 28-minute dramatic short film of 18 paintings done in real-time to the music.

The paintings are inspired both by the music and Richard Dehmel’s poem of the same name, which appears as subtitles in the video. The poem details a dark romantic story set in the 19th century, starting “Two figures pass through the bare, cold grove/the moon accompanies them, they gaze into it.”

Using only one canvas, Strik layers each scene in oil with a final layer of lacquer to seal in each scene. This is purposely done since the collective scenes are to be seen as layers of memories. Each layer can be taken off revealing the history and scene that passed. The final painting shows the finale scene, but we know that underneath there is more than meets the eye.

Compatible with sextet or orchestral version.

Produced by Siècles des Lumières Entertainment
Creative Team: Phil Yost, Art by Geff Strik
Videography by Ken Park, Photography by Joey Clay
Premiered by The Florida Orchestra with Michael Francis, conductor

Don Quixote

Video multimedia of original paintings inspired by Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote for cello, viola, and orchestra.

Music is accompanied by a dramatic short film of paintings done in real-time to the music.

Pulcinella

Video multimedia of original paintings inspired by Igor Stravinsky’s Pulcinella.

Can be done with either the entire ballet or the suite.

25 individual paintings which can be displayed in the lobby or during a pre- or post-concert discussion as needed.

Mother Goose Ballet

Video multimedia of original paintings inspired by Ravel’s Mother Goose Ballet. Available for both the ballet and suite versions.

Geff Strik is an internationally acclaimed artist born in Montceau-Les-Mines, Burgundy, France. Geff recalls his father drawing birds with charcoal on the daily newspaper after a long day of working in the coal mines. It was his first encounter with drawing, and inspired him to start painting at the age of eight. As a teenager in 1980, Geff was awarded the “Fondation de France” prize in painting. A year later, he joined the French Beaux-Arts Institute (Dijon, France) and graduated in 1986 with academic merit. After teaching art in Montceau-Les-Mines and working as a designer in Burgundy, Geff moved to Paris where he became artistic director for Guerlain in 1990. Since then, Geff has been recognized for his strong attention to detail, technique, and portraiture. Throughout the years, Geff has been entrusted by many for his commissioned portraiture and fine art, from local heroes to international leaders. His experience with styles from around the world helps him to find the best image for conveying any message. Affiliations: Portrait Society of America, Société des Artistes Indépendants, École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts.

More projects are in the works, and Geff is open for new collaborations!