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| yna@yna.co.kr 2023-01-23 08:00:22
SEOUL, Jan. 18(Yonhap) - Pianist Elizabeth Bright, who captures the movie soundtrack of Ghibli Studio led by Hayao Miyazaki with a comfortable piano melody, is to visit Korea.
Elizabeth Bright, who will be on the stage of the “Ghibli Piano Trio Valentine's Concert” at Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the 11th of next month, said in a written interview with Yonhap News, "I'm truly happy to meet Korean audience with abundant emotions."
Elizabeth Bright is a pianist and composer from Osaka, Japan. Her real name is Yumi Nanatsutani, and she uses her stage name Elizabeth Bright when she plays cover music such as Ghibli movie soundtracks.
In 2009, the album "Piano Ghibli," which featured Ghibli Studio's film soundtrack on the piano, gained huge popularity not only in Japan but also in Korea. Since then, she has obtained an official performance license in recognition of her performance and arrangement skills at Ghibli Studio, and has been active by releasing "Ghibli Studio Masterpiece” in 2018.
She also held performances in Korea in 2016, 2017, and 2019, and received great love by selling out several performances.
"I can feel that Korean audience loves Ghibli's music passionately and gently," said Elizabeth Bright, adding, "With abundant sensibility, they capture the essential message contained in the world of Ghibli's works."
Studio Ghibli, which made the films "Spirited Away," "Howl's Moving Castle," "Kiki’s Delivery Service," and "My Neighbor Totoro," are loved worldwide for their unique emotional stories, paintings, and music.
In particular, numerous film soundtracks created by composer Hisaishi Joe have their own fan base, with orchestras from all over the world playing steadily.
Elizabeth Bright's performance gives Ghibli's film soundtrack, which was played as a full orchestra, a simple but rich melody of a piano, a different charm from the original song.
"If Ghibli's music played as an orchestra is a colorful oil painting on a large wall, I think the piano version of it is an image like a small watercolor painting decorated in one’s own room,” she said.
"I try to accurately express the essence and core of the original song while arranging it," she added, explaining, "As a performer, I play as simple as possible so that I don't miss the original charm of the song rather than revealing my personality too much."
She, who has continued her relationship with Ghibli Studios since 2009, said that the driving force was the "greatness of each Ghibli movie soundtrack."
"Ghibli's music has a charm that makes the depth and richness of classical music lighter so that anyone can enjoy it. Classic is a great world that encompasses all human emotions, but sometimes it's hard for everyone to feel that greatness right away. Ghibli music, on the other hand, easily moves people’s heart."
She is widely known as a "Ghibli pianist" in Korea, but in Japan, she has continued various activities by releasing songs under her real name, Yumi Nanatsutani.
"I'm presenting piano improvisation and various works through media such as YouTube," she said, adding, "I'm trying to continue my activities based on original music by Yumi Nanatsutani as well as Ghibli songs."
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Yunhee Cho.)
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