Last Sunday, December 3, the Auditori Fòrum CCIB in Barcelona enjoyed an impeccable concert by the Universal Symphony Orchestra at the premiere of the Concert Tribute to Joe Hisaishi Ghibli and symphonic works. The resident orchestra of the Marina Alta Film Music Festival, Sonafilm, concluded its season in style in front of more than 3.000 attendees.
Under the artistic direction of Romain Dasnoy and the technical direction of Yoann Berger, the project, created by the French production company Overlook Events, was inaugurated by the Universal Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the production company's chief conductor, Adrián Ronda Sampayo. The performance marked the start of a European tour of the project for 2024.
The concert, which lasted more than two hours, presented emblematic works by Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi, known for his iconic compositions for films such as Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess mononoke, El viaje de Chihiro, Porco Rosa o The Summer of Kikujiro among many others, captivating an auditorium full of spectators.
The orchestra, made up of 70 musicians based in the Marina Alta, featured the outstanding participation of the German pianist Benyamin Nuss, who dazzled the audience with his interpretive skill against Hisaishi's demanding melodies. In addition, unconventional instruments in a classical orchestra, such as the accordion and mandolin, were integrated at various points in the program.
Joe Hisaishi, recognized for his collaboration with director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, is one of the most renowned Japanese composers in the world. His style, which ranges from the orchestral to the experimental, has left an indelible mark on music for audiovisual productions.
This concert marks the Universal Symphony Orchestra's second event at the Auditori Fòrum in Barcelona in 2023, after its successful presentation in May with Assassin's Creed Symphony. The orchestra, made up of professional musicians from all over Valencia, will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2024, consolidating itself as a benchmark in symphonic concerts in the audiovisual field, with performances in the best venues in the country.
For next year, the orchestra has new projects planned, some of which could be presented in the Marina Alta during the next edition of Sonafilm, which will celebrate its sixth anniversary. Last August, the orchestra delighted the public with concerts in Calp, with music by Spanish composers, and in Ondara, with a show focused on James Bond.
