A Symphonic Celebration
Deutsche Grammophon, 2023
8/10
Listen to A Symphonic Celebration
The legendary Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi creates symphonic arrangements of his original soundtracks for such Ghibli classics as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro, and he welcomes Grace Davidson, Avi Avital, Bach Choir and Stephen Morris, plus the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
“Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind” opens the listen with much attention to atmosphere, where the gentle keys are met with booming moments from the orchestra, and “Kiki’s Delivery Service” follows with a distinct dreaminess that allows the winds to flow with much beauty and grace.
At the halfway point, “Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea” showcases the harmonic voices amid bright string interaction, while “Castle In The Sky” soars with rich textures that welcome many voices and well timed brass.
Close to the end, the powerful and colorful “Spirited Away” is the best selection due to its glorious nature, poetic singing and meticulous keys, and “My Neighbor Totoro” exits with a twinkling approach that builds into a vibrant and layered finish.
Hisaishi’s accolades and impact is truly unparalleled, and his name truly belongs in the same category as Philip Glass and Terry Riley, as evidenced by this excellent body of work.
Travels well with: Yuja Wang- The American Project; Víkingur Ólafsson- From Afar