Joe Hisaishi: A Symphonic Celebration (Deluxe Edition)

For his first album on Deutsche Grammophon, Joe Hisaishi, the revered Japanese composer whose work has become synonymous with the magical Studio Ghibli animations of director Hayao Miyazaki, has created an exciting series of symphonic arrangements of his original soundtracks for such Ghibli classics as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro. Fittingly titled A Symphonic Celebration, it presents state-of-the-art recordings of his extraordinary work for this much-loved artistic force in animated moviemaking. Recorded in London by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the composer, its tracks are newly arranged by Hisaishi for symphony orchestra and features Grace Davidson, Avi Avital, Bach Choir and Stephen Morris.

Hisaishi ranks among Japan’s greatest composers of all time and is famed worldwide for his collaborative work with Oscar-winning director, animator and Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki. Their creative partnership began in 1984 with the post-apocalyptic anime feature Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and has since developed to the point that they are now likened to other legendary director-composer pairings, including Hitchcock and Herrmann, Fellini and Rota, Leone and Morricone, and Spielberg and Williams. Indeed, Hisaishi’s reputation has been secured by the fact that his soundtracks have won eight Japanese Academy Awards, an unprecedented achievement. He is equally acknowledged as a conductor and as a composer of contemporary classical music, much of it minimalistic and experimental in nature, like that of friends and colleagues such as Philip Glass, Terry Riley and Nico Muhly.

Hisaishi Suite from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
The Bach Choir
Mark Austin director
The Tiffin Choirs
James Day director
June 2022, St. Giles Cripplegate Church, London

Hisaishi Suite from Kiki’s Delivery Service
Stephen Morris violin
June 2022, St. Giles Cripplegate Church, London

Hisaishi Suite from Princess Mononoke
Grace Davidson soprano
The Bach Choir
Mark Austin director
June 2022, St. Giles Cripplegate Church, London

Hisaishi Suite from The Wind Rises
Avi Avital mandolin
June 2022, St. Giles Cripplegate Church, London

Hisaishi Suite from Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
Grace Davidson soprano
The Bach Choir
Mark Austin director
June 2022, St. Giles Cripplegate Church, London

Hisaishi Suite from Castle in the Sky
The Bach Choir
Mark Austin director
The Tiffin Choirs
James Day director
June 2022, St. Giles Cripplegate Church, London

Hisaishi Suite from Porco Rosso
June 2022, St. Giles Cripplegate Church, London

Hisaishi Suite from Howl’s Moving Castle
Phil Cobb trumpet
June 2022, St. Giles Cripplegate Church, London

Hisaishi Suite from Spirited Away
Mai Fujisawa soprano
June 2022, St. Giles Cripplegate Church, London

Hisaishi Suite from My Neighbor Totoro
The Bach Choir
Mark Austin director
The Tiffin Choirs
James Day director
June 2022, St. Giles Cripplegate Church, London

Hisaishi “Merry Go-Round of Life” from Howl’s Moving Castle
Phil Cobb trumpet
June 2022, St. Giles Cripplegate Church, London

Hisaishi “One Summer’s Day” (The Name of the Life) from Spirited Away
Grace Davidson soprano
June 2022, St. Giles Cripplegate Church, London

Discs: 2
Record Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Release Date: June 30, 2023