Customer Reviews

Symphony Best Selection

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Joe Hisaishi is best known in the U.S. as the regular composer for anime director Hayao Miyazaki. He's done the soundtracks for every Miyazaki film from NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND right up to HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, and including CASTLE IN THE SKY, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE, PORCO ROSSO, PRINCESS MONONOKE and SPIRITED AWAY. He's also the regular composer for live-action director Takeshi Kitano (SONATINE, HANA BI, KIKUJIRO, BROTHER). These are all lush, melodic, full-bodied scores that contribute significantly to the rich emotional tapestries created by these master filmmakers.

This CD is a recording of a live concert performed by a 70-piece orchestra with Hisaishi himself at the piano. Several pieces from NAUSICAA are played, along with the theme from CASTLE IN THE SKY, as well as newer pieces that emphasize the overarching lyricism of Hisaishi's work, thanks to his piano and the 45 strings accompanying him. (Other CDs of his give play to his jazz and pop strains.) One piece here, entitled "Tango X.T.C.," is a bit more upbeat than the others and features an accordion and more of a Latin flavor.

Given how few film composers there are today who turn out consistently distinctive work in Hollywood, one has to look abroad for the kind of film music that enhances the moviegoing experience the way the work of such composers as Bernard Herrmann, Miklos Rozsa and Ennio Morricone used to. (Morricone is still around but hasn't done a major Hollywood film since MISSION TO MARS in 2000.) Hisaishi is the one film composer active today whom I would place alongside Morricone in the top rank of current film composers. If you've found his scores for the Miyazaki films impressive, you'll enjoy this CD as well.

This is a great CD and I can recommend it to anyone who is looking for something easy to listen to, but you won't hear on the radio. It is strictly for the Japanese anime devotee.