In the past two years (and a couple of lockdowns), the live music experience has been cut from most of our lives. That’s where the Candlelight series comes in – having started a couple of months ago, this string of pop-up concerts in emblematic venues like the St. Stephen’s Uniting Church or the Masonic Centre is rekindling Sydney’s instrumental performance culture.
Image credit: fever
Last week, a couple friends and I attended the Candlelight: Best of Joe Hisaishi concert. Hisaishi is a composer and musical director best known for his work with Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation company that many of us hold with great nostalgic regard. Who hasn’t wanted to hug Totoro, banter with Calcifer (yes – the sentient, sassy stovetop fire), or spend a summer in the bakery of a scenic European town, Kiki-style?
The concert took place in the Grand Lodge of the Sydney Masonic Centre. There were candles even before we entered the concert hall – electric candles which lined the borders of the foyer, where people milled about, chatted, and bought drinks before the event.
The Grand Lodge itself was entirely transformed: electric candles all across the back, lining the walkways through the audience, and filling up the steps leading to the stage where the string quartet sat poised. It was a beautiful setup, and made the place seem smaller, warmer, and more intimate, like chamber music performances back in the 18th century.
"The Grand Lodge itself was entirely transformed: electric candles all across the back, lining the walkways through the audience, and filling up the steps leading to the stage where the string quartet sat poised"
The program took us through iconic tracks from the most heart-wrenching Ghibli movies, such as the cult classic Merry-go-round of Life from Howl’s Moving Castle. And all the musicians were so enthusiastic! The lead violinist, who also emceed the event, even gave a moving spiel about his favourite Ghibli movie, Princess Mononoke.
The crowd favourite of the night, though, had to be the theme from My Neighbour Totoro. When they reached the falling broken chords of the chorus, a group of teenagers chimed in, and soon, most of the room was singing, To-to-ro, to-to-ro (the only lyric most of us knew) – whether it was liquid confidence or a sense of rekindling community, it certainly made for a night to remember!
Image credit: fever
So even if Studio Ghibli isn’t your thing, the Candlelight series has a variety of different musical events coming up that you wouldn’t want to miss. From Vivaldi to Elton John to Taylor Swift, they offer performances from Sydneysider musicians for almost every musical taste. The concerts themselves are usually less than 2 hours long, and they’re very affordable if you’re content to sit further back; all things considered, they make for a nice night out.
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