8 hands, 1 honky-tonk piano, loads of cuteness. Come join 5 rowdy pianists in bringing alive the sweet, silly, fantastical world of Japanese animation alongside exquisite French duets!
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Again, so much heart and thought and effort went into this one. Always searching for ways to communicate these special messages. And it’s touching to receive the enthusiastic responses of each listener, to hear that the experience was fun, accessible, and heartwarming. :’) Thank you for everyone who has supported me on this journey! <3
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Cuteness has swept across our world by storm. And it both attracts and repels. While cuteness can elicit warm fuzzy feelings, it can also provoke ugly or aggressive ones. More than just sweet, cuddly, and charming, cuteness has become fused with the uncanny, grotesque, and monstrous - often in a frivolous and subversive way. But: there is still hope for the innocent. Alongside our world of irony and cynicism, there is a place for magic, simplicity, and sincerity – the parallel universe of Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Spirited Away. These deeply cherished animations are pure, earnest, and irresistibility cute. Likewise, their music wield the power of cute to open our hearts to vulnerability and tenderness. My research will use composer Joe Hisaishi’s film scores to investigate the musical recipe to cuteness. How does cuteness become the sound of empathy? And how can we find hope, innocence, and vulnerability within the cynic?
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Spirits, wanderers, dreamers, Ghiblilane! UTAU2 makes its appearance at Kin, Montreal to take listeners down a memory lane of curiosity, wonder, and imagination. Accompanied by animated visuals, installation, dim-lit candles and poetry readings, the GHIBLILANE project pays tribute to the musical works of Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi throughout his long-time collaboration with Studio Ghibli. Reserved to a select audience of 25, GHIBLILANE endeavors to create a concert experience that is touching, memorable, and uplifting during such strange times— a reminder that silver linings can be found in every corner of the world.
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Princess Mononoke is a particular favourite - epic, dramatic, terrifying at times, tender at others, filled with glorious landscapes, enchanting magical forests and spirits, fantasy and wisdom and heartfelt earnestness.
Simple things are often the most profound. I hope this music touches you too, for those dedicated Ghibli fans. If not, please - a very magical world awaits your inner childlike limitless imagination <3
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