Ryuichi Sakamoto
Worldwide audiences both young and old have found inspiration in the music of composer, musician, producer, and Renaissance man, Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Along with his first group, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Ryuichi was a true pioneer in early electronic music. His catalog includes rock albums, classical compositions, an opera, over twenty ï¬lm scores, and numerous video game soundtracks.
Sakamoto has been recognized for his music with an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, a Grammy, the Order of the Cavaleiro Admissão from the government of Brazil, and in July 2009, he was named an Ofï¬cer of the coveted Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the government of France.
He has collaborated with such diverse luminaries as David Bowie, David Sylvian, dramatist Robert Wilson, author William S. Burroughs, the Three Tenors’ Jose Carreras, and the Dalai Lama. Ryuichi was tapped to write music for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and for the 400th anniversary of the city of Mannheim, Germany.
His most recent tour, "Playing the Piano", has toured in Japan, Europe, and North America. The concerts are performed using two grand pianos, one played live by Sakamoto, and a second one that interacts with Sakamoto’s playing via MIDI controller, creating a virtual piano duet.