If you have ever hummed the waltz from Howl's Moving Castle or felt a lump in your throat at the opening of Spirited Away, this one is for you. Joe Hisaishi is coming to Reykjavík, and he is bringing his own music with him.
One night with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra
On Friday 2 April 2027 at 19:30, Hisaishi steps onto the podium in Eldborg, Harpa's main concert hall, to conduct the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. The concert is called, simply, Hisaishi conducts Hisaishi.
According to the orchestra, it will be the first time it has played his music, so this is a new meeting for both sides.
What's on the programme
The full programme hasn't been announced yet, but two pieces are confirmed:
- a suite from one of his Studio Ghibli films, and
- his Concerto for Orchestra, a concert work written for the symphony hall rather than the cinema.
That mix is the point. Hisaishi has written music for more than 100 films, and his long partnership with director Hayao Miyazaki made him famous around the world. On stage he is also a serious concert composer and conductor. He records for Deutsche Grammophon and works regularly with major orchestras abroad.
Why book now
Hisaishi's concerts have a habit of selling out early, and this is one evening only. If a spring trip to Iceland is on the cards, early April is a lovely time to come: the days are getting long again, and you finish the night with a walk along Reykjavík's harbour right outside Harpa.
The essentials
- When: Friday 2 April 2027, 19:30
- Where: Eldborg, the main hall at Harpa, Austurbakki 2, Reykjavík
- Tickets: prices vary by seat; see the orchestra's page
- Book: Iceland Symphony Orchestra – Hisaishi conducts Hisaishi
Totoro fans, set your reminders.