“Ryuichi Sakamoto Opus” review: Ryuichi Sakamoto’s farewell concert

Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, author, in particular, of unforgettable cinematic music such as for youHe delivers the final ceremony filmed by his son, Neo Sora.

Filming took place in a week in September 2022, six months before the composer’s death. Ryuichi Sakamoto Opus It is meant to be intimate. In black and white, and on the piano, the Japanese recites selections from his compositions, the most famous of which appears at the end of this moving concert.

As for the composition, Neo Sora noted that he was inspired by it Creative actor By Leonard Bernstein as well Thirty-two short films about Glenn Gould. Then he prepared a storyboard and asked his father to give him a list of the plays he would perform. This concert was filmed at the request of Ryuichi Sakamoto at Studio 509 of the NHK Broadcasting Center in Tokyo, due to the perfect acoustics of the venue, a place whose floors creaked, forcing the crew to walk barefoot during filming.

But apart from minor production issues and the fact that the composer has been unable to play for long periods due to cancer, this concert represents an opportunity to savor Ryuichi Sakamoto’s compositions, and to observe them (certain frames of Niu Sora, such as when he films his father from behind, encourage contemplation and listening to the work ) and remembers how much soundtrack we owe him.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5