Symphonic Suite The Boy and the Heron for piano and orchestra

A new album based on the music Joe Hisaishi composed for Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award-winning animated film "The Boy and the Heron," released in Japan in July 2023. Hisaishi arranged the music himself for the concert stage and recorded it conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Across this 14-track suite, delicate piano writing is balanced with rich orchestral sound, showcasing Hisaishi's unique musical expression as a composer, pianist, and storyteller. More than 40 years have passed since the legendary collaboration between Hayao Miyazaki and Joe Hisaishi began with "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" in 1984, and their work continues to captivate people across generations around the world. This symphonic suite stands as a moving testament to their remarkable long-standing creative partnership. "Miyazaki's earlier films had a grander, more symphonic worldview, but this time the protagonist's personal world was much more prominent. So for the arrangement, I reduced the number of instruments to bring it closer to chamber music. The first half depicts a lonely boy living in the real world, while the second half explores an imaginary world that is both heaven and hell." (Joe Hisaishi) [Performers] Joe Hisaishi (conductor and piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. [Recording] April 13-15, 2025, London, AIR Studios.

01. Ask me why (I)
02. Gray Heron
03. Memories
04. A Trap
05. Sanctuary ~ The Master of the Tomb
06. Ark
07. Warawara
08. Reincarnation
09. Rain of Fire
10. A Song of Prayer
11. The King’s Parade ~ Diversion
12. The Great Collapse
13. The Last Smile
14. Ask Me Why (II)

Joe Hisaishi (Conducting & Piano)
Royal Philharmony Orchestra

Recording: March 13-15, 2025 / London, AIR Studios