On this delightful collection of beloved hits from the Ghibli universe,
Joe Hisaishi
and
the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
bring these songs to life with equal parts whimsical wonder, choral heft, and lush orchestral layering.
A Symphonic Celebration
indeed, the spirits are unmistakably high on triumphant moments such as "Merry-Go-Round of Life" from
Howl's Moving Castle
and the bombastic introduction to
Nausicaae
's "The Legend of the Wind" and the percussion-heavy stomper "The Battle between Mehve and Corvette." The latter films receive the most representation here, while
Kiki's Delivery Service
,
The Wind Rises
Ponyo
Castle in the Sky
Porco Rosso
, and, of course,
My Neighbor Totoro
all make their mark with familiar themes and deeper score cuts. While fan favorite
Totoro
has the honor of closing the show -- "Hey Let's Go" provides an ineffable amount of joy -- the grandeur and spiritual impact of the
Princess Mononoke
section is a definite standout (especially the shiver-inducing title track). Live vocals contribute to many of the highlights here, from the tender contemplation of
Spirited Away
's "One Summer's Day," whose English-language version benefits from the angelic voice of
Grace Davidson
to the uplifting force of "Nausicaa Requiem" and the childlike "The Distant Days," which both feature a full choir. That blend of sweeping triumph and innocence permeates this collection, as one would expect, and the master delivers all the hits and then some. Even though there are plenty of variations of these songs, each successive collection warrants a listen.
is no different, with
Hisaishi
the Royal Philharmonic
delivering a performance for the ages. ~ Neil Z. Yeung