The World of Hans Zimmer – A New Dimension at the O2 Arena

Few film composers can claim their music has outgrown the cinema, but Hans Zimmer is one of them. Four decades of blockbusters, from Rain Man to Dune, have turned his scores into something close to a catalogue of hits, and The World of Hans Zimmer – A New Dimension brings that catalogue back to the O2 Arena.

The night kicks off with Man of Steel Suite: Part 1 – What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World?, a slow build that sets the tone. The gentle Driving Miss Daisy and the muscle of The Rock Suite follow. From the first bars, the orchestra is the star. You can feel the passion every musician pours into each piece, and the violinist is especially outstanding.

Pearl Harbor is the first truly moving moment, with a beautiful and aching melody. The Dark Knight is intense and dramatic, but it’s No Time to Die that lingers. The cello fills the Greenwich arena with so much emotion that it is arguably the most affecting moment of the first set. The Gladiator medley travels from The Wheat through The Battle and Elysium to Now We Are Free, which is peaceful yet powerful. It’s a breathtaking stretch.

Then comes Interstellar, and it’s on another level entirely. Heard live, the music builds slowly into something huge and overwhelming. It’s the kind of moment when you simply sit there, completely lost in it, goosebumps included.

The second set opens with Wonder Woman, lively and full of energy. Its crescendos keep stacking up until the whole orchestra seems to explode with sound. Sherlock Holmes is playful and exciting. Kung Fu Panda brings a completely different energy: it is fun and nostalgic, and it has to be said, it’s giggle-inducing too.

A Time of Quiet from Dune: Part Two is hauntingly beautiful, its atmosphere almost otherworldly. The Prince of Egypt is deeply moving. The Lion King Suite brings warmth and yet more nostalgia, with an impressive line-up of singers filling the stage. Inception and Pirates of the Caribbean then close the night.

Seldom, if ever, does an arena show feel this intimate and this enormous at once. These are scores many of us grew up with, and hearing them breathe through a live orchestra is something really special. It’s an unforgettable night, and a reminder of how much talent, passion and emotion it takes to make film music sing on its own.

Asya Aksenenko
Photos: Paul Boyling

For further information and future events visit The World of Hans Zimmer – A New Dimension’s website here.