It's been 4 busy months since my last entry, but I feel compelled to post this.
I've been a huge Hans Zimmer fan since 2000's Gladiator, but looking at his filmography on IMDB, his work goes as far back as 1984 when he was just 27 years old.
The first scores of his which I would've heard were for The Lion King and Rain Man, although I didn't take note of his name at the time.
He also composed for The Rock but it didn't hit me as hard as Gladiator did.
From 2000 onward, his career really took off - Hannibal, Pearl Harbor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, the Kung Fu Panda films, Sherlock Holmes, Inception, Man of Steel, Interstellar, Dune Parts One and Two, Top Gun: Maverick and F1: The Movie.
He had a concert at the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix which I knew about but didn't attend because of the outdoor venue.
He was always on my bucket list, so I was overjoyed when he finally returned 7 years later.
I consciously avoided watching YouTube videos so I could experience it fresh, and it was absolutely astounding!
I was immensely lucky to snag an 11th row centre aisle seat, which was randomly allocated by the SISTIC ticketing system.
There was a tall guy with a big head in front of me, but I managed to take gorgeous photos and videos by raising my arms.
The entire event was a whopping 3 hours long ( excluding the intermission ), with 2 acts and an encore.
Considering the mind-boggling volume of Zimmer's work, some notable scores were understandably left out ( The Rock, Kung Fu Panda, Top Gun: Maverick ).
However, the setlist included a great mix of genres, from grand sweeping themes ( Interstellar, Inception ) to lighthearted playful tunes ( Sherlock Holmes, Pirates of the Caribbean ).
The highlights for me were the following:
F1: The Movie
An exhilarating piece with a pulsating beat that generated euphoria through the 10,000-strong crowd.
Coupled with colourful high-speed graphics on the giant screen, the effect was incredible!
Pearl Harbor
Titled Tennessee, this haunting melody is one which I've loved for more than 2 decades, and never thought I'd hear live.
It was the only full-length recording I made that night, and I've been listening to it repeatedly.
Just unbelievably gorgeous.
The Lion King
The final performance in Act Two was a spectacular medley that moved me to tears.
Featuring Lebohang Morake, the South African who sang on the original 1994 soundtrack, it gave me major chills!
The large screen graphics of African animals were wonderful, and the 20-member African choir added great poignance with their powerful vocals and beautifully choreographed dancing.
Interstellar and Inception
Both scores feature simple melodies comprising just a few repetitive notes, but the musical arrangements give them an amazing otherworldly quality.
For Interstellar, there was even someone suspended in mid-air, wearing a costume that was fully covered in crystals.
Wow...
Gladiator
Zimmer's most famous work was an electrifying 20-minute medley! ( I timed it haha. )
He also brought the original singer, Lisa Gerrard, whose vocals on Now We Are Free had me reaching for the tissues.
Pure bliss.
Despite being an ardent fan of movie music for 45 years ( it started in kindergarten with Disney cartoons and John Williams ), I've only attended 2 concerts with actual Hollywood composers so far - the first was Justin Hurwitz in March 2025.
Watching my idols on stage as their scores are being played are truly out-of-this-world experiences!
While John Williams will always be my favourite, Hans Zimmer is far more versatile, utilizing a vast range of styles from classical to pop/rock and electronic.
I'm constantly fascinated by how composers create such exquisite music. It's really pure genius.
I'm not sure if other similar concerts will materialize - the closest possibility is Justin Hurwitz's return with a show that features pieces from other films - but I'm crossing my fingers for John Powell ( How To Train Your Dragon )!
Based on a Google search, the other famous composer who tours is Danny Elfman. Someone please bring him to Singapore!
This was the best show I saw this year, and one of the best I've ever attended.
It also made me miss my mum, who loved many of the movies Zimmer scored, especially Gladiator and Pearl Harbor. She would've loved this very very much.
Here's the setlist if you'd like to hear the repertoire.
Till next time!