The Queensland Symphony Orchestra pays a breathtaking tribute to a legendary film composer in their concert Art of the Score: The Music of Hans Zimmer. Experience an evening of adventure and glamour that will pull at your heartstrings. This mesmerising performance is fun, enlightening and invigorating.
Even if you haven’t heard of Hans Zimmer, you will likely recognise his music. From iconic films like The Holiday, Top Gun: Maverick, Dune, Kung Fu Panda and even more! His wide array of work spans across genres, making Zimmer one of the most prolific creatives in Hollywood.
His unique sound is a combination of digital technology and orchestra with many distinct layers that give it texture. Film director Christopher Nolan, one of Zimmer’s most significant collaborators, describes him as a minimalist composer with a sort of maximalist production sense.
The concert opens with the suspenseful ‘Discombobulate’ from Sherlock Holmes in a powerful display of light and sound. With the audience on the edge of their seats, they move onto the cheerful Driving Miss Daisy Theme. This jolly earworm will likely stay in your head after the concert.
Unsurprisingly, the Pirates of the Caribbean, The Curse of the Black Pearl Suite is an audience favourite. The dramatic and momentous tune redefined typical pirate and adventure film music. Interestingly, Dr Gregory Lee, one of the first violinists, also performed on the original Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack. It’s a testament to the collective talent of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
A vibrant rendition of The Lion King Orchestral Suite features after the intermission, a work that won Zimmer his first Academy Award in 1994. It’s a stirring piece that was widely considered to go against the norm of traditional early ‘90s film scores.
To close the concert, Soloist Cassandra Seidemann joins the orchestra to sing the beautiful song ‘Now We Are Free’ from Gladiator. Her heavenly operatic voice gives a wistful finality to the piece.
The more than 80 members of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra fill the stage to capacity. Their flawless synchronicity while playing is incredible to watch and even better to listen to. Conductor Vanessa Scammell is a musical magician. Her graceful movements and strong presence make witnessing her coordination of such a large orchestra a joy.
Hosted by the talented crew from the Art of the Score podcast, Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding, this performance is more than a concert. Be prepared to learn and laugh as they guide audiences through Zimmer’s life and work. Their immense passion and knowledge of film compositions are awe-inspiring. It’s no wonder they can talk for hours about a single film’s score on their podcast.
The hosts’ interactions with the audience, the orchestra and the conductor are fun and insightful. On opening night, they encouraged an impromptu singing competition to the Batman theme between the regular audience and the many school groups in attendance. This was not even the least of their antics!
I would love to see Pogson and Golding pair up with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra again for more Art of the Score concerts. Their informative and funny introductions create a welcoming atmosphere for new and old theatregoers alike.
Art of the Score: The Music of Hans Zimmer is an unmissable event and is only playing for three performances to almost sold-out crowds. Be quick to grab one of the remaining tickets and don’t miss out on seeing this epic performance.
Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Art of the Score: The Music of Hans Zimmer runs from 23 – 24 May 2025 at the Concert Hall, QPAC.
Tickets are on sale now via QTIX.
Website: https://qso.com.au/events/2025/special-events/Zimmer
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/qsorchestra/
Photo credits: Sam Muller Media
