Joe Hisaishi wrote the theme to My Neighbor Totoro in 20 minutes. Four decades into his partnership with the director Hayao Miyazaki, that speed no longer surprises anyone. Their collaboration began in 1984 with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and Hisaishi has scored every Miyazaki film since, including Studio Ghibli animations such as Spirited Away, Ponyo, and The Boy and the Heron, which won the 2024 Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Hisaishi told Classic FM that he and Miyazaki seem to work together on a new project every four years—“It’s like the Olympic Games!” Known for the way he blends romantic orchestral traditions, repetitive minimalist patterns, and Japanese folk influences, Hisaishi has released nearly 40 solo albums and over 100 film scores. He arrives at Radio City Music Hall this week for a seven-night residency, where he will be conducting and playing piano with MasterVoices and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. —Clara Scholl