Celebrate Joe Hisaishi’s music with CSO, from his enchanting Studio Ghibli scores to music for the concert hall.

Joe Hisaishi’s music for My Neighbour Totoro is as integral to the film’s magical world as Studio Ghibli’s beautiful, hand-drawn animation. Dan Golding, host of the podcast Art of the Score, has described Hisaishi’s partnership with Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki as ‘one of the great composer-director relationships in film history’, in the same category as Steven Spielberg and John Williams.

Join Golding and Art of the Score host Andrew Pogson, as they return to CSO following 2026’s The Music of Hans Zimmer, to celebrate Hisaishi’s remarkable career. You’ll hear melodies from Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howl’s Moving Castle as well as the live-action films Kikujiro and Departures, alongside music for the concert hall, including the soaring anthem of World Dreams and the driving minimalism of DA.MA.SHI.E.

Australian pianist Aura Go joins CSO to deliver the glistening piano lines that carry the melody of so many Hisaishi scores.

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