A concert was held in New York that used so-called mixed reality technology to give the audience a personal connection to late Japanese musician and composer Sakamoto Ryuichi.

Sakamoto died of cancer in March at the age of 71.

People at a preview of the show on Thursday wore mixed reality headsets that showed them moving images while letting them view their own surroundings in the real world.

As the concert began, the audience saw Sakamoto's image appear in the center of the room, playing the piano.

Audience members were allowed to walk up to the performance space, where they could come much closer to Sakamoto than they ever would in a real concert hall.

The show lasted about an hour and included pieces such as the score for the film "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence."

The show's director, Todd Eckert, said the work captured the entirety of Sakamoto, including every detail of his hands, hair, glasses, face and his feet on the pedals of the piano.

Eckert said Sakamoto told him he wanted the show to have a personal connection with the audience. The director said the event is not only for Sakamoto's fans, but also for those who have never heard of him.

One man who attended the preview said it was an intimate experience of a figure who has moved so many people.

The show opens on Saturday and runs through July.