The 52-member Florence Pops Orchestra delivered a spellbinding setlist of classic Studio Ghibli soundtracks, spanning four decades of the studio’s legendary films, highlighted by accompanying guest vocalists whose powerful performances elevated the soundtracks to new heights.
The evening began with a breathtaking collaboration as the Florence Pops Orchestra was joined by an incredible Japanese vocalist and kokyū virtuoso, whose soulful voice and mastery of the traditional three-stringed instrument elevated the opening pieces. The evening continued with the emotional strings of “The Legend of Ashitaka” from Princess Mononoke, its solemn melodies evoking the film’s clash between humanity and nature. This was followed by a whimsical medley from My Neighbor Totoro, where playful woodwinds and a soaring chorus brought the beloved forest spirit to life, drawing cheers of recognition from the audience.
Highlights also included a delicate piano-and-string arrangement of “Path of the Wind”, also from My Neighbor Totoro, and the sweeping waltz rhythms of “Merry-Go-Round of Life” from Howl’s Moving Castle, its grandeur mirroring the film’s themes of love and discovery.
The orchestra’s rendition of “One Summer’s Day” from Spirited Away proved particularly moving, with its ethereal melodies eliciting audible reactions from the immersed listeners.
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