After performing his Studio Ghibli hits last year at Wembley, Joe Hisaishi has returned to the UK for a couple of stints at the Royal Albert Hall.

Not to be reduced to the cinematic scores of Hayao Miyazaki movies he is best known for, the Japanese composer, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, began his latest concert with his own self-titled Symphony 2.

Moving from chaotic to twinkly melodies, the cheerful conductor took his enraptured audience, many of whom were his native…