Joe Hisaishi

Joe Hisaishi is known across the globe for his film music, in particular his collaborations with Studio Ghibli creator and two-time Oscar-winner Hayao Miyazaki on such movies as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro. In 2023, Hisaishi’s score for their latest feature, The Boy and the Heron, earned him his very first Golden Globe nomination. For his DG debut album he created symphonic arrangements of music from several of these soundtracks, achieving global chart success and widespread critical acclaim. Over the decades, Joe Hisaishi has also earned great respect for his work away from the film world, having built up a wide-ranging catalogue of contemporary classical works. Many of these are inspired by minimalism and the experimental compositions of friends and colleagues such as Philip Glass, Steve Reich and Terry Riley, as well as by the rich musical heritage of Japan and Western classical traditions. His second DG album will focus on Hisaishi the concert-hall composer – highlighting the originality and versatility of his musical craftsmanship – as well as on his long-honed skill and sensitivity as a conductor.