The Japanese composer and Yellow Magic Orchestra cofounder Ryuichi Sakamoto has shared a concert film, titled Playing the Piano for the Isolated, giving listeners a chance to experience “live” performance while stuck at home in coronavirus quarantine.
The composer, who featured on Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name soundtrack – as well as that of the director’s most recent short film, The Staggering Girl – performs music from across his career in the filmed performance, which took place April 2, 2020. He also explains that the venue was thoroughly sterilized, and the crew and musicians are working under doctors’ recommendations.
Hidejiro Honjoh, a musician renowned for playing the shamisen, a traditional three-stringed Japanese instrument, also features as a special guest, improvising with Sakamoto.
A documentary on the legendary composer’s creative process, titled Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda, also screened earlier this month, as part of Boiler Room’s 4:3 Online Film Festival.
For even more Ryuichi Sakamoto, revisit his interview with Dazed, in which he discusses working with Guadagnino, as well as with designer Rei Kawakubo. Watch Playing the Piano for the Isolated below.