The Symphonic World of Studio Ghibli Casts Its Spell in Manila

From July 31 to August 2, Manila was spirited away during five performances that brought the music of Studio Ghibli to life in a way no screen ever could.

The first of those five nights was always going to be something special. July 31 was the gala night of Cat The Theatre at Solaire, and the magic began well before the 8 p.m. curtain. In the lobby, a Fully Booked pop-up with official Ghibli merchandise drew crowds of fans flipping through artbooks and picking up keepsakes. And the audience itself was a sight to behold: Howls, Kikis, a No Face or two, Chihiro, Tombo, and countless others who came accessorized with Ghibli-inspired details, plushies tucked under their arms and Ghibli apparel worn with pride.

Also before show, a special gala program set the tone for the evening. H.E. Kazuya Endo, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, reflected on seven decades of Filipino-Japanese friendship and the singular power of music to cross borders. “Let tonight’s repertoire tug at our heartstrings,” he said, “and tonight, let us be spirited away into the symphonic world of Studio Ghibli. Maraming salamat po, at mabuhay ang pagkakaibigan ng Japan at Pilipinas.”

Maestro Gerard Salonga followed with a revelation that reframed everything about the night ahead. The score for Kiki’s Delivery Service traditionally calls for a mandolin, but tonight, the Filharmonika Orchestra would use the mandurria — a hybrid of the European mandolin and the Filipino bandurria. For Spirited Away, in place of hanging gongs, the ensemble would play the kulintang. Joe Hisaishi’s music, shaped by Filipino hands and Filipino instruments, would land on Filipino ears in the most intimate way possible. “This kind of connection, dialogue, partnership, or friendship is something that is unique — in my view, at least, as a musician — to musical performance,” Salonga said. “And it allows us to connect on a deeper level with each other [in a way] that words or pictures fall short.”

When the show began, Salonga took a moment to survey the audience’s costumes with visible delight — noting the sea of red bows before dedicating the first piece to every young lady wearing one. He introduced Kiki’s Delivery Service as a story of coming of age, of losing and regaining one’s identity, of the connections with the people who matter most. If you’ve ever loved Kiki (and Jiji) hearing her journey rendered live by the 83-piece Filharmonika Orchestra is something else entirely.

Concertmaster Diomedes Saraza Jr. drew some of the night’s most breathtaking moments, his solos cutting through the hall with a warmth and precision that gave goosebumps to audience members.

My Neighbor Totoro followed, with narrator Alex Diaz guiding the audience through the film’s story. However, there were moments where the words weren’t needed at all. The orchestra conjured Totoro so completely you could almost see him in the dark.

The second half opened with Howl’s Moving Castle, pianist Nikko Rivera joining the orchestra for the symphonic variations on “Merry-Go-Round of Life” and “Cave of Mind.” Salonga noted the film’s undercurrent, which is the destructive power of war, one that resonates especially today, before the music took over. You could almost picture the castle itself: all grinding gears and groaning metal as the orchestra conjures every creak and rumble of that magnificent machine before giving way to the grandeur and ache of Hisaishi’s melodies.

And then came Spirited Away. The first few notes were enough to imagine the scenes from the movie. I felt like I could pinpoint where exactly we are in the story as the orchestra played. Salonga also drawn a parallel between the Miyazaki-Hisaishi partnership and that of Spielberg and John Williams, and hearing the full sweep of Hisaishi’s score for Miyazaki’s masterpiece played live made that comparison feel right. Salonga described the outgrowth of these partnerships as “music that has endured and resonated and is so beloved by so many people, all over the world.”

Salonga closed the night with gratitude: to the Japan Foundation, Manila for bringing the official scores to the Philippines, to Studio Ghibli for their rare endorsement, and above all to the audience. “You came for the music,” he said, “and for me as a musician, that means the world.”

Five performances in one unforgettable run. Manila was well and truly spirited away.

Keep an eye out for two exciting new immersive experiences announced at the gala: Zero Latency VR, opening its first Manila location this October, and Immersive PH, a VR platform bringing history, culture, and science to life for audiences of all ages. More details to come.

The Symphonic World of Studio Ghibli is presented by Film Concerts PH.

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