LA Phil Store

For his first album on Deutsche Grammophon, Joe Hisaishi, the revered Japanese composer, has created an exciting series of symphonic arrangements of his original soundtracks for such Ghibli classics as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro, which are now released on two 180g translucent yellow LPs in a gatefold sleeve.

Hisaishi’s work has become synonymous with the magical Studio Ghibli animations of director Hayao Miyazaki since the 1980s, where their creative partnership began and has since developed to the point that they are now likened to other legendary director-composer pairings, including Hitchcock and Herrmann, and Spielberg and Williams. Fittingly titled A Symphonic Celebration, it presents state-of-the-art recordings of his extraordinary work for this much-loved artistic force in animated movie-making. Recorded in London by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the composer, its tracks are newly arranged by Hisaishi for symphony orchestra and features Grace Davidson, Avi Avital, Bach Choir and Stephen Morris.