Kordz x Sakamoto

Asko|Schönberg and Kordz perform a special tribute to (film) composer and synthesiser pioneer Ryuichi Sakamoto, who died in 2023. With his synth-pop and electropop, Sakomoto opened doors for generations of (pop) musicians after him. Swiss-Georgian producer and composer Alexandre Kordzaia (b. 1994), better known as Kordz, made a rebellious adaptation of Sakamoto’s best-known and lesser-known work. The special lighting design by lighting artist Boris Acket enhances the music.

Sakomoto became best known for his scores for films like Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, The Last Emperor and The Revenant. Kordz plunged into Sakamoto’s early work to adapt it and, with the master’s permission, wrote a piece with the same upbeat energy and musical creativity. Kordz x Sakamoto premiered in the Muziekgebouw during the Holland Festival in 2021, followed by several successful performances.

The composition was realised partly with support from Fonds Podiumkunsten.