If you were to think of the best composers of all time, you might well start naming the likes of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Vivaldi and Ludwig van Beethoven. Maybe names such as George Frideric Handel, Joseph Haydn and Claude Debussy might pop onto your list, but it is unlikely that you will think to name some of the best film composers that have worked over the years. Even then, the name most likely to spring to mind is likely to be that of John Williams, whilst some might think to mention Hans Zimmer. This event is dedicated to the work of the latter.
Who Is Hans Zimmer?
Hans Florian Zimmer was born on the 12th of September 1957 in Frankfurt in what was then known as West Germany. He spent the early part of his career in the United Kingdom before then moving to the United States of America to work. His early career saw him playing keyboards and synthesisers for the 1970s band Krakatoa. In some ways, this experience influenced his career as a film composer, given the fact that he is known for work integrating electronic sounds with more traditional orchestral arrangements. His work has included the composition for nearly 200 soundtracks.
When Christopher Nolan produced the first film in his Batman trilogy, Batman Begins, it was Zimmer that he turned to in order to produce the necessary sound that fitted the movie. Nolan is far from the only composer to work with Zimmer, however. Well-known directorial names such as Ridley Scott, Ron Howard and Michael Bay have all worked with him to produce the soundtracks for their films. Basically, if you have watched pretty much any film in the modern era of filmmaking since the 1980s onwards, then there is a very good chance that you will know the work of Hans Zimmer.
What the Tribute Is All About
If you know Zimmer’s music and like the sound of heading along to a tribute to his work, then you might be interested to know a little bit more about what it entails. It is an immersive tribute to one of the movie world’s most successful and best-known composers. Taking place at Guildford Cathedral, it sees a live chamber orchestra playing a selection of both Zimmer’s work and some of the most iconic music ever committed to celluloid, all whilst being illuminated by thrilling and exciting lighting. There are several shows that you can see in Guildford, so picking the best one for you is the right way to go.
One thing to bear in mind on that front is that the lighting is an important aspect of the experience and the 2025 concert is primed to take place at the start of September. That means that it will almost certainly be lighter if you attend the matinee of the concert, which may have an impact on how it looks. Even the evening shows might be impacted, on account of the fact that the sun sets later and the lighting will not be as bright and impactful as when it gets later. That being said, it is always going to be more about the music than the lights, so it is worth attending for that alone.
The Films You’ll Hear the Music From
The concert takes place across an hour and 15 minutes, being crammed full of absolute bangers from the films that you know and love. Although Hans Zimmer’s films will obviously be at the forefront of the experience, they aren’t the only ones that you will get to hear music from. The chamber orchestra will play music from films such as the following:
- Jurassic Park
- The James Bond Franchise
- E.T.
- Avatar
- Interstellar
- Lion King
- Gladiator
- The Harry Potter Franchise
- Schindler’s List
- Titanic
- The Star Wars Universe
- The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
- Dune
- Inception
In between the various songs, it is likely that you will get some information about the music being played from the orchestra leader or the conductor. They will give you information about how the songs were written and their inclusion in the movies that they featured in. Although there is no affiliation between the Illuminated Orchestra and the films and composers that they play the works of, they play the music to the best of their ability in order to ensure that you have a thrilling night. It is a great opportunity to see the work of some of the world’s best movie composers played live.
What to Expect
Because this is an immersive experience, you can expect to be swept along in the music of the composers and blown away by the incredible lighting that works alongside the orchestra to bring it all to life. It is more than just a concert, instead being an incredible spectacle that will have you gripped and entertained in equal measure. The experience is recommended for those aged eight-years-old and over, which is something worth bearing in mind if you’re planning to take along your children or those that you are the guardian of. The musicians are first-class, so you will love hearting them play music you know so well.
Any disabled patrons that wish to attend the event will be able to do so along with a carer, who is able to attend free of charge. Although there is no dress code to speak of, the fact that it is hosted inside Guildford Cathedral means that people are asked not to wear high heels, lest they cause any damage to the flooring. It is also worth bearing in mind that the Cathedral might well be a little bit more drafty than you might otherwise hope for, so it is worth ensuring that you wear clothing that will be warm enough to ensure that you’re comfortable throughout the show.