The Music of Studio Ghibli

The Oregon Symphony is bringing Joe Hisaishi's scores from Studio Ghibli to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Thursday, February 4, 2027. It's a one-night-only event, part of the symphony's Special Concerts series, which means it's eligible for the Choose Your Own Series if you're already building a package for the season.

The program pulls from four of the studio's most recognizable films: Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Spirited Away. If you've seen any of those, you know the music—the sweeping melodies and the quiet, whimsical moments that give those movies their heart. The symphony will be performing selections from all four, so you'll hear a good spread of Hisaishi's work in one sitting.

There are two things to keep in mind before you buy. First, this is a concert, not a screening: there are no on-screen visuals, so you're listening to the music on its own rather than watching clips from the films. Second, Joe Hisaishi himself won't be there; the orchestra is performing his scores, not playing with him. The symphony is conducted by Wilbur Lin, who'll be leading the ensemble through the night.

The performance runs from 7:30 to 9:30 PM at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 Southwest Broadway in downtown Portland. Since it's a one-night-only show, it's the only chance to catch this particular program this season.