Ryuichi Sakamoto’s last performance will be shown in upcoming film, Opus

Opus will premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Ryuichi Sakamoto’s last concert will be shared in an upcoming film titled Opus.

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Premiering at the Venice Film Festival on September 5, Opus will feature a 20-song performance by Sakamoto. This last performance, filmed in Sakamoto’s final months, features the composer and musician solo on the piano.

The songs in Opus span the entirety of Sakamoto’s career–from early Yellow Magic Orchestra cuts to music from his final album, 12. Watch a teaser below.

Opus is directed by Sakamoto’s son Neo Sora and produced by his wife and manager, Norika Sora. In a statement posthumously given to Deadline, Sakamoto explained, “The project was conceived as a way to record my performances – while I was still able to perform – in a way that is worth preserving for the future. We borrowed the NHK Broadcast Center’s 509 Studio to record in, which is a place that I think offers the finest acoustics in Japan”.

“I went into the shoot a little nervous, thinking this might be my last chance to share my performance with everyone in this way. We recorded a few songs a day with a lot of care,” he continued.”

“In some sense, while thinking of this as my last opportunity to perform, I also felt that I was able to break new grounds. Simply playing a few songs a day with a lot of concentration was all I could muster at this point in my life. Perhaps due to the exertion, I felt utterly hollow afterwards, and my condition worsened for about a month. Even so, I feel relieved that I was able to record before my death – a performance that I was satisfied with”.

Find out more about Opus here.