THE BOY AND THE HERON Joe Hisaishi | Deutsche Grammophon

Internationally acclaimed Japanese composer and conductor Joe Hisaishi announces his upcoming album The Boy and the Heron, a newly reimagined concert work based on his Golden Globe-winning score for Studio Ghibli’s Academy Award-winning film of the same name by Hayao Miyazaki.

The project was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and features Hisaishi himself as piano soloist. Rather than simply arranging the original soundtrack, Hisaishi has completely recomposed the music into a standalone symphonic work for the concert hall. Beloved themes from the film are woven into a rich orchestral narrative, creating an atmospheric and emotionally compelling listening experience. An essential release from one of today’s most celebrated composers.

Speaking about the process of recomposing his original score, Hisaishi says: “I usually create a suite based on a soundtrack in the same year as a film is released. This time I waited a little longer, and then decided to entirely rewrite the music for the concert hall. The Symphonic Suite is therefore a standalone piece, completely independent from the film.”

The album will be released digitally, on CD and on LP on 6 November. Pre-order the CD and LP versions in the DG Store.

Listen to a second pre-release track, an orchestral arrangement of Ark from the movie.