Composer Isao Tomita will turn 84 this year, but that won¡¯t stop him creating a synth soundtrack for a dancing hologram, to realize the dream of his ballet dancer (and rocket scientist) friend who passed away in 1999.
Tomita, a pioneering synthesizer musician, wrapped up the finale of his latest project ¡ª a series of symphonic performances that premiered in 2012 called ¡°Symphony Ihatov¡± ¡ª in November 2015. And now (though he is unable to give away too many details), he says he is almost ready to reveal his newest composition, ¡°Dr. Coppelius.¡±
¡°I was once told by Dr. Hideo Itokawa that his dream was to dance in a duet with a hologram, so I¡¯ve decided to make his wish come true,¡± Tomita tells The Japan Times. ¡°Actually, two thirds of (the composition) is finished, and it¡¯s set to be performed around March,¡± he says, as he brings out the booklet for the 2011 reissue of his album ¡°Planets.¡± He flips through the pages until he finds a photograph of Itokawa on stage during a 1977 performance by his group Kaitani Ballet, a show that was accompanied by Tomita¡¯s music.
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