Joe Hisaishi: Concerto for Orchestra at Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Joe Hisaishi brings his Concerto for Orchestra to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra following its world premiere with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC. Written in five movements and running approximately 45 minutes, the work places the orchestra itself at the center of expression, following a form made iconic by composers such as Béla Bartók, Witold Lutosławski, and Zoltán Kodály. The first and third movements feature driving rhythmic textures, while the inner movements highlight lyrical solo passages for individual instruments, with the final movement bringing these elements together. The piece is co-commissioned by an international consortium that includes the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.