Kitaro's project, Impressions of the West Lake is a modern day opera conceived and directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Zhang Yimou (Hero, Curse of the Golden Flower). The production is highlighted by music composed by Kitaro. Impressions of the West Lake represents the latest artistic success in the long, storied career of Kitaro. In 2010, the soundtrack album “Impressions of The West Lake” was nominated for 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, and it was Kitaro’s 13th nomination to date. As a Grammy and Golden Globe award-winning artist, this incredibly prolific composer and performer has continued his reign in the international spotlight and at the forefront of musical innovation ever since the release of his debut solo album, Astral Voyage, in 1978. His numerous recording highlights include 1980's Volume 1 in the revered Silk Road series which is considered an all-time masterpiece with subsequent volumes only adding to its luster, 1987's The Light of the Spirit (a collaboration with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and Kitaro's American breakthrough), 2000’s Thinking Of You, which won a Grammy for Best New Age Album, as well as Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai, a multi-volume series of albums inspired by the tragedy of 9/11. Kitaro garnered a Grammy Nomination for all series of Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai to date.
