Joe Hisaishi: Studio Ghibli 25 Years Concert

These days there are a plethora of concerts featuring great film and video game music being performed all over the world.  Many of them I truly wish I was able to attend, but there is one, above just about all others, that I've desired to see for years....and the only way to do so has been via a Japanese released Blu-ray entitled, Joe Hisaish in Budokan: Studio Ghibli 25 Years Concert.

The cost of this release managed to keep my trusty credit card in its sheath, but just today, I stumbled across this concert on Youtube, and so am excited to share it with you now.  Perhaps you've never heard of this concert or have, like me, been waiting for it to come down in price.  In either case, we have a great chance watch this concert online (for now).  So, if you have any affinity for Joe Hisaishi or marvelously large concerts, then you should be clicking the "play" button above as your next task for the day.

You'll find that  the quality of the video and sound is quite impressive, especially for Youtube,..but not nearly as impressive as the shear size of that orchestra and choir! And then there's the performance...

I have lost count as to how many times I got the ol' chills while watching this concert. Yes...we know Hisaishi-san's thematic material for Ghibli Studios quite well by now, but the range of force and passion to quiet, contemplative beauty captured here is truly remarkable. Selections from from Nausicaa, Ponyo, Laputa, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and other famous Ghibli films make this two-hour concert rapturous.

Now, I'm going to spare you a blow by blow review of this video, as it is meant to be experienced and not merely read about. Suffice it to say, I will be dropping the necessary dollars to acquire this Blu-ray, because seeing and hearing this on the home theater setup is only going to make this experience even better!

If you'd like to join me in that you can pick it up at the following outlets:

YesAsia.com

CDJapan


So what do you think of this?  Will you be picking it up on Blu-ray?

Tan Dun’s Martial Arts Trilogy: USA Tour Dates

Tan Dun’s Martial Arts Trilogy

Four U.S. Summer Tour Dates Announced

Martial Arts Trilogy features selected music from three critically acclaimed martial arts film soundtracks composed by Tan Dun - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Banquet and Hero. Available July 19, the compilation features world-renowned soloists Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang and Itzhak Perlman.

Leading directors Ang Lee, Zhang YiMou and Feng Xioagang turned to Tan Dun’s dramatic music to help turn these films into cultural and artistic touchstones as well as box office hits. The recurring musical themes of this film trilogy – sacrifice, desire, transcendence, revenge, and power – demonstrate an artistic quality beyond film music that can be appreciated in its own right.

This summer, The Martial Arts Trilogy Tour will bring Tan Dun’s music to large audiences across the nation. Tan Dun will conduct his compositions with various soloists at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and in New York City as part of the Lincoln Center Out of Doors program. This is followed by an eight-city tour of China, with stops in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other major cities. The tour concludes with the NHK Symphony in Tokyo and at the Singapore Festival in December.

Tan Dun’s innovative repertoire encompasses classical music, multimedia performance, and Eastern and Western traditions. He has conducted the world’s most famous orchestras, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Berliner Philharmoniker, Orchestre National de France, Philadelphia Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. His ability to reach wide audiences is shown by his first Internet Symphony, commissioned by Google/YouTube and heard by over 25 million people online, and his multimedia work, The Map, which has toured more than 30 countries. Tan Dun has received numerous awards, including an Academy Award and a Grammy for Crouching, Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Japan’s Recording Academy Awards for Best Contemporary Music CD (Water Passion after St. Matthew) and the Grawemeyer Award.


U.S. TOUR DATES

July 21 - San Diego Symphony - San Diego, CA

August 5 - Wolf Trap – National Symphony Orchestra - Washington, DC

August 12 - Lincoln Center Out of Doors - New York, NY

September 3-4 - Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA

Inception Premiere and Live Concert Performance with Hans Zimmer

INCEPTION PREMIERE AND CONCERT PERFORMANCE

Check the live performance of Hans Zimmer, Johnny Marr, and orchestra. Concert begins at about 8:30 in, but don't miss the niceties from Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page about the Zimmer and the score...and some words from Zimmer, himself.

Star Wars in Concert!

Well, when did this sneak onto the scene? Apparently, my head has been in the sand on this, as I was just introduced to these series of concerts via 1UP and Comic-Con, today.

With the 10th Anniversary of The Phantom Menace being this year (Is that possible already?) and 30th Anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back looming for next year, (and perhaps due to the success of the traveling Lord of the Rings concerts), George Lucas, John Williams and company have put this special multimedia, live performance together.

At this time, it appears most of the performances are in California, with a few in Oklohama and Washington state. Unfortunately, John Williams isn't conducting himself (that would have just made it too irresistable), but still should be a very entertaining show. I think this is a great way to celebrate these anniversaries, but you know what would be better?...

John Williams conducting the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road, re-recording the entire scores of the original trilogy! Now, that would be cause to get your "yub yub" on! In the meanwhile...

You can get all the info you need at the Star Wars in Concert official site here.

Trailer Music LIVE! Concert Coming June 27, 2009

Coming in June is a special concert featuring many of the powerful musical pieces you have inevitably heard when watching those enticing movie trailers at the theatre.   Composer Yoav Goren, GLOBUS, the Immediate Musical Orchestra, and the Angeles Choral will be performing music used in film and television trailers such as: THE LORD OF THE RINGS, SPIDER-MAN, and HARRY POTTER.  Tickets are already on sale and range from $30 to $50.  Below is the official press release, but you can find out more at the TRAILER MUSIC LIVE! official site.

IMPERATIVA RECORDS PRESENTS:

“TRAILER MUSIC LIVE”

THE U.S. PREMIERE of an EPIC MULTIMEDIA EVENT

Experience Music and Visuals Featured in More Than 2,500 Motion Picture Theatrical Trailers and Television Franchises Including “Lord of the Rings,” Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Harry Potter,” “Spider-Man,” and more...

Imperativa Records presents a first-of-its-kind, multimedia event. Trailer Music Live will feature music that has been composed, produced for and featured in more than 2,500 theatrical trailers including such blockbuster motion picture franchises as “Lord of the Rings,” Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Harry Potter,” “Spider-Man,” and many others. This truly unique live concert experience will incorporate video of trailer footage from major motion pictures throughout the evening and simultaneously marry these images with music performed by an astonishing array of more than 100 live musicians on stage. 

Immediate Music has been Hollywood’s preeminent producer of original music for major motion picture trailers for more than 15 years and also pioneered the broad distribution of “trailer music” with their recent debut commercial album “Trailerhead.” Other featured performers include singers from the Angeles Chorale, Immediate Orchestra, and rock band Globus, whose hit single, “Orchard of Mines,” has enjoyed nine consecutive weeks on Billboard Magazine's "Hot Singles" chart. 

"This event was received with such enthusiasm in London, that we felt compelled to bring it to the states,” says Yoav Goren, Imperativa Records founder, composer and musician with both Immediate and Globus. “Trailer Music Live is truly a unique live concert experience for movie fans of all ages, featuring a large orchestra, choir and rock band bringing this emotional and epic movie music directly from the screen to the stage.” 

More on the Participants

The rock group Globus will be performing several trailer inspired tracks from its acclaimed album “Epicon” during the June 27th event. Globus previously performed a major concert at London’s Wembley Grand Hall. Globus’ current hit single, “Orchard of Mines,” has been on the Billboard Hot Singles charts for more than nine consecutive weeks, and is currently #8 on NMW’s Top 40 Radio Airplay List (Secondary Markets). 

The recording artist Immediate’s recently debuted release “Trailerhead” contains 15 epic tracks, each of which presents a highly emotional experience. The tracks mix orchestra with hard hitting electronics and formidable grooves, along with massive, sweeping and memorable choral melodies. Performed by a 100 piece orchestra and 70 member choir, “Trailerhead” features some of the most rousing, powerful, and talked about trailer music which has been heard in movie theaters all over the world. 

The Angeles Chorale is a world-class, large choral ensemble based in Los Angeles, and has presented the choral masterworks for more than a third of a century. The chorale has appeared as guest artist with the area’s leading orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Pasadena Symphony, the Pasadena Pops, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the California Philharmonic and the Glendale Symphony Orchestra, and has also made numerous appearances with the American Youth Symphony. Angeles Chorale voices are also often heard in movie theaters around the world, having recorded large numbers of choral backgrounds and effects used in feature film trailers and television advertisements. 

Lisa Gerrard's North American Tour 2007

Here's a bit of promo video regarding vocalist LISA GERRARD's (Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Man on Fire) 2007 North American Tour.

Here are the scheduled stops:

May

03, Atlanta: Variety Playhouse
05 US, PA, Philadelphia: Theatre of the Living Arts
07 US, VA, Alexandria: Birchmere
09 US, New York: The Concert Hall
11 US, Montreal: Theater Maisonneuve
13 US, Toronto: Danforth Music Hall
15 US, Chicago: Vic Theater

Lisa Gerrard: seated event
17 US, Minneapolis: Guthrie Theater
19 US, Denver: Boulder Theater
22 US, Vancouver: Center for the Performing Arts
24 US, Seattle: Moore Theater
26 US, San Francisco: Palace of Fine Arts
29 US, Los Angeles: Orpheum Theatre
30 US, San Diego: Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay

June

01 Mexico City: Luinario

Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com