BY CUTCOMMON
It’s no secret that we’re fans of Joe Hisaishi. His music forges the magic of Studio Ghibli’s heartwarming anime films. It underpins these brave characters’ adventures to a castle in the sky; the romance that develops inside a moving castle; the joy of discovering an enormous Totoro behind your home.
With so many stunning worlds to escape into, it might take a bit of a nudge to bring you back to this world — a world in which Hisaishi composes music beyond fantasy. In August, Phoenix Collective will perform the Australian premiere of a piece Hisaishi composed not for the screen, but for the concert hall: his String Quartet No. 1.
We chat with the ensemble’s founding violinist Dan Russell about being the first to perform this Hisaishi composition in Sydney, Canberra, Central Coast, and Newcastle.
Dan, how did you come across Hisaishi’s String Quartet No.1?
Our cellist Andrew Wilson is a huge Hisaishi/Studio Ghibli nerd who knew that Hisaishi had composed much more than his acclaimed Studio Ghibli music — complex chamber music, which is fiendishly difficult.
So why did you want to premiere this fiendishly difficult piece of music — especially when there are so many of his film scores to draw from?
We wanted to showcase Hisaishi’s ‘other’ music.
For over a year now, Phoenix Collective has been performing Joe Hisaishi’s Studio Ghibli music for Fever Candlelight concerts in Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle and Perth to sold-out audiences.
What moves you about the music of Hisaishi as you perform it so widely?
Hisaishi has the ability to compose the most exquisite and emotive film scores.
However, he is also capable of the most complex, rhythmic, and demanding string writing. His String Quartet No.1 is as demanding as a Bartok string quartet.
Do you think it’s necessary for people to have seen his films to enjoy his music?
It’s hard for me to separate his Studio Ghibli music from the films themselves. Even when the films are created, the music is composed early on in their creation, and becomes an integral part of the magic.
Having said that, we are also performing some music from some non-Ghibli films, which I haven’t seen, and that music is super exciting.
Who are you hoping will attend the concert — for instance, loyal fans of Studio Ghibli, or perhaps classical music lovers who haven’t heard the works before?
I’m hoping this concert will appeal to all music lovers — in particular, Studio Ghibli lovers who aren’t aware of Joe Hisaishi’s other compositions.
Sure, we will be performing famous pieces from Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, and Princess Mononoke, but this will be balanced out with an Australian premiere of his String Quartet No.1 and more.
Before we go, what’s your favourite Studio Ghibli film?
To be honest, I struggle with picking favourites for anything, and Studio Ghibli is no exception.
It comes down to two favourites: Princess Mononoke, the first Ghibli film I was introduced to; and Laputa: Castle in the Sky. The music in both of these is exceptional.
Phoenix Collective will tour The Art Music of Joe Hisaishi (Studio Ghibli) from 4-6 August. It will also be available to watch through PCQ’s Digital Sessions.
Images supplied. Credit Dan Lopez.
