Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano November 29, 2009

Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano
Europe 2009

Ryuichi Sakamoto piano

Programme:
Legendary composer, performer and producer Ryuichi Sakamoto will tour the UK for the first time in fifteen years this autumn to mark the release of his first solo recording in five years. ‘out of noise’ is an album of new piano arrangements encompassing both his popular repertoire and the avant-garde compositions. Ryuichi will present audiences with an opportunity to hear and experience the new arrangements from ‘out of noise’ alongside favourites from his extensive and highly acclaimed recording career.

Sakamoto's best-known work is probably the soundtrack to 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence', but in 1987, his score for Bertolucci's 'The Last Emperor' won him an Oscar, a Grammy, a Golden Globe, as well as the New York, Los Angeles and British Film Critics Association awards for best original soundtrack. Since then, he has worked with Bertolucci, Oliver Stone, Pedro Almodovar, and Brian De Palma.

In 1999 Sakamoto's first opera, LIFE, premiered with seven sold-out performances in Tokyo and Osaka. This ambitious project featured contributions and performances by over one hundred performers, including: Jose Carreras, Salif Keita, Bernardo Bertolucci, Salman Rushdie, Pina Bausch, His Holiness Dalai Lama, and members of the Frankfurt Ballet.

In 2004, Sakamoto managed to simultaneously return to his electropop roots and maintain his classical influences with a fusion of many musical styles on his 15th solo release, Chasm. In 2007 Sakamoto revisited his partnership with Christian Fennesz with the release of their debut full-length album, Cendre, as well as the first release from Sakamoto's collaboration with Christopher Willits, Ocean Fire, under the group name Willits + Sakamoto. On November 16th, 2007 Sakamoto premiered utp_, a new collaboration with Carsten Nicolai.

Sakamoto recently reunited with Yellow Magic Orchestra for one performance at Al Gore's Live Earth festival on July 7th 2007 in Kyoto, a performance which Rolling Stone magazine called the best reunion of the global festival. The group also performed at the Massive Attack-curated Meltdown on June 15, 2008.

Sakamoto will curate the first ever Japanese Meltdown in Tokyo 2010.

PRESENTED BY MEAN FIDDLER

SHOWING SUNDAY 29 and MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER

Official Website: http://www.cadoganhall.com/showpage.php?pid=1009