Melbourne Recital Centre to screen Opus, Ryuichi Sakamoto’s final gift to his audience

On Saturday 23 March 2024, Melbourne Recital Centre in collaboration with Hi Gloss Entertainment will present a screening of RYUICHI SAKAMOTO | OPUS in the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall. The concert film, Ryuichi Sakamoto’s final gift to his audience, is a powerful and moving performance of intense emotion and intimacy, presented twelve months after he passed away in March 2023.

Ryuichi Sakamoto at Melbourne Recital Centre

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Celebrated as one of Japan’s most accomplished and best-known musicians, Sakamoto was renowned for his innovative and experimental style as both a performer and composer. He was credited with scoring over 30 films, receiving a BAFTA for “Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence” and an Academy Award for “The Last Emperor.” His passion and curiosity for music were always at the forefront of his work as he pushed the boundaries of musical creativity – crafting a multimedia opera, transforming a glass building into an instrument and journeying to the Arctic to capture the sound of melting snow.

As health challenges rendered touring and solo shows impossible in his later years, the maestro wanted to perform for the world one last time. Opus was shot by Sakamoto’s son Neo Sora in NHK recording studio, as it is thought to possess the finest audio dynamics in Japan. Sakamoto performs a carefully curated selection of 21 compositions from his illustrious career, seated at a grand piano in the absence of an audience.

Captured in monochrome, Sora skilfully preserves the intimacy and emotional depth of Sakamoto’s swansong. This cinematic experience offers a unique and unparalleled glimpse into the final chapter of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s musical journey.

Melbourne Recital Centre’s Director of Programming Marshall McGuire said “As part of our 15th anniversary season, this is a great opportunity for us to honour Ryuichi Sakamoto’s musical legacy. The Elisabeth Murdoch Hall’s acoustic and technical capabilities, unparalleled in Australia, ensure that the NHK audio dynamics are presented as intended, showcasing the essence of Sakamoto’s masterful performance.”

RYUICHI SAKAMOTO | OPUS has already received immense praise globally with Variety describing it as “A glorious final performance” and Indie Wire urging audiences to attend for “a man saying goodbye in a way that only he can.” Cinemacy describes it as “a stunning send-off for a beloved virtuoso,” while Little White Lies emphasises that the emotional and breathtaking final performance is an unmissable experience.