July 31, 2026 – On the opening night gala of The Symphonic World of Studio Ghibli, the lobby of the Theater at Solaire was filled with a sense of festive excitement. Presented by Film Concerts PH, in partnership with Japan Foundation Manila and the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, this would herald the first of five sold-out shows, spread across three nights.
The original compositions of Maestro Joe Hisaishi have deeply ingrained themselves into the fabric of the world-beloved Studio Ghibli’s and Hayao Miyazaki’s movies. With every animated Ghibli story comes the inseparable musical pieces that have stayed in the hearts of the fans through the ages. This is exactly why the show had easily attracted devoted crowds all over the world, including the Philippines.
That evening, crowds of people were seen donning their best Ghibli impressions – from multitudes of Kiki’s bright red bow, to adorable plushies of Totoro and Kaonashi, down to the impressively accurate cosplays of Howl and Chihiro.
Gala Night Festivities
To celebrate the opening of the show, the gala night was held at the theater lobby. In attendance were a number of special guests and VIPs, including the Japan Ambassador Endo Kazuya, Filharmonika Orchestra Conductor Gerard Salonga and Film Concerts PH CEO Mikhail Schemm, who each took the stage to give a few words to the audience.
Embassy of Japan Ambassador Endo Kazuya acknowledged the event as an important part of the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of Philippines-Japan Friendship, tying closely to the two countries’ common love for music. He pointed out that the concert would “whisk us away into the world of Japan’s most beloved media through the musical talents of our Filipino friends”.
Maestro Gerard Salonga, the concert’s conductor, also described the show as special, with its many uniquely Filipino touches. The Filharmonika Orchestra made use of traditional native instruments such as the bandurya (a hybrid form of the mandolin) and the Maguindanaoan kulintang (a row of gong-chime ensemble) to produce the distinctive musical effects in the original compositions. These additions could only be found in our country.
Mikhail Schemm, the CEO of Film Concerts PH, thanked the crowd for attending. He reaffirmed their company’s commitment to continue providing high-quality immersive experiences to the Filipino audience. They are also set to launch more exciting ventures such as Zero Latency VR (with video games like Warhammer, Outbreak and Far Cry) which launches this October and Immersive PH. More details will be announced soon.
The Concert and that Ghibli Wonder
The Symphonic World of Studio Ghibli was brought to life by the 83-piece Filharmonika Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga. The two-hour show featured symphonic suites of four Ghibli classics: Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away.
Before starting, Gerard Salonga told the crowd that the concert was a rare treat as it bore the official blessing of Studio Ghibli, crediting the Embassy of Japan and Japan Foundation Manila for their help in making it happen. In light of this, the orchestral suites they would be playing were the exact arrangements Joe Hisaishi had used in his concerts.
He also explained that it would be a departure from their usual film-concert format as the show would have no visuals flashing on the screen as they played, leaving the audience to immerse themselves in the music.
Living up to expectations, the concert was a riveting visceral experience. It truly felt like being spirited away (so to speak) to the familiar worlds of the beloved Ghibli characters with the sheer power of music and personal imagination. To put it into words, it would have been what Kiki felt when she flew across Koriko for the first time; what Mei experienced when she discovered a giant sleeping ball of fur in the middle of the maze of a forest; what Sophie realized when Howl took her to a hidden sanctuary of vast flower fields; what Haku and Chihiro went through when they remembered each other’s true identities. Hearing the Filharmonika Orchestra play live evoked that distinct sense of wonder and adventure so powerfully, it was enough to bring tears, goosebumps and exhilaration, all in heaping waves.
Joe Hisaishi’s genius in creating unforgettable pieces was really apparent during the concert. When you heard a specific piece of music, you could almost easily connect it with the exact scene from the movies. You could even pinpoint the moments of joy, sadness, triumph – the entire rollercoaster of emotions that the characters had felt.
For their part, the Filharmonika Orchestra and Maestro Gerard Salonga handled Joe Hisaishi’s compositions with utmost care, respect and love; and you can see and hear it in the precise intensity of their live performance. Gerard Salonga was visibly more animated as he was conducting the show. He waved his hand graciously; he was almost dancing when the piece called for it; he made a fist in the air as if to draw out the sound, and the orchestra delivered strikingly. The concert also featured moving solos by Diomedes Saraza Jr. (Concertmaster) and pianist Nikko Rivera. Actor Alex Diaz led the playful narration during the suite for My Neighbor Totoro.
At the end of it, our Ghibli hearts were full. We’ll be humming “Merry-Go-Round of Life” and “A Town with the Ocean View” with a spring in our steps and smiles on our faces, remembering the intensity and the wonder brought about by this concert experience.
Special thanks to Film Concerts PH!
by Sandra Mae Laureano
