On March 30, 2023, the famous Japanese composer, conductor, and pianist Joe Hisaishi performed at the Musikverein in Vienna as part of the annual concert series "Cinema:Sound," presenting his most famous works. Hisaishi gained worldwide recognition for his compositions for Studio Ghibli's anime films by Hayao Miyazaki, films by Takeshi Kitano, and minimalist music, having scored more than 110 films and won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for "Departures" (2008).
In addition to his work as a composer and pianist, Joe Hisaishi also leads his own orchestra called Future Orchestra Classics. His recording of Beethoven's Symphonies 1-9 received a "Special Award" at the 57th Record Academy Awards in Japan in 2019. Hisaishi has collaborated with numerous artists and orchestras, including Philip Glass, David Lang, Mischa Maisky, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the American Symphony Orchestra.
During the concert, Hisaishi conducted his most famous works, including the Symphonic Suite from the anime film "Princess Mononoke", the film scores from Kitano's films "Kikujiro's Summer", "HANA-BI" and "Kids Return", and his "Symphony No. 2". The concert was a great success, impressing the audience with Hisaishi's outstanding music and the excellent performance of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.
The concert by Joe Hisaishi was a unique opportunity to experience a living legend in action. Fans of his music and film scores in general can look forward to upcoming events where Hisaishi may perform again. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra will continue to present remarkable composers and musicians who will delight audiences with their outstanding performances.
Featured works:
Joe Hisaishi, Symphony No. 2
Joe Hisaishi, Mládí for Piano and Strings
Joe Hisaishi, Symphonic Suite "Princess Mononoke" with soprano Katharina Melnikova
Joe Hisaishi, "My Neighbor Totoro", concert version from the soundtrack to the motion picture (1998)