Skip to main content

Archived event

Performance details

Thursday 6 November 2025 at 7:30pm
Friday 7 November 2025 at 7:30pm
Saturday 8 November 2025 at 1pm
Saturday 8 November 2025 at 7:30pm
Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall

About this performance

From Studio Ghibli classics My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away to over 100 works for the screen and concert hall, Joe Hisaishi is one of the most prolific and beloved composers worldwide.

With a career featuring legendary collaborations with director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, multi-award winning scores for films, tv and the concert hall, Joe Hisashi’s music has been the soundtrack to people’s lives for decades.

In a specially-conceived new concert event, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, along with Art of the Score podcasters Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding, special guest pianist Aura Go and conductor Nicholas Buc, return to Hamer Hall to guide you through the musical world of Hisaishi in a love letter to Japan’s great Maestro.

Featuring music from My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away, rarely heard pieces from films by directors Nobuhiko Obayashi and Takeshi Kitano; Water Traveller and Kikujiro, alongside concert works DA.MA.SHI.E and World Dreams, this will be a unique and unforgettable concert experience celebrating one of the world’s most important modern composers.

Featuring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Nicholas Buc conductor
Aura Go piano
Art of the Score:
Dan Golding host
Andrew Pogson host

Program

All works by Joe Hisaishi

ACT I

World Dreams: 1st Movement
DA.MA.SHI.E
Kiki's Delivery Service
Water Traveler
Kikujiro: Summer
My Neighbor Totoro

ACT II

Howl's Moving Castle: Variation
Oriental Wind Dream: Dream More
Departures
Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind: Fantasia
Spirited Away: Suite

... and more!

This concert is produced in association with Concert Lab.

*Please note: this concert does not feature Joe Hisaishi in person.

Stay tuned.
Sign up.