Hans Zimmer Barclays Middle live performance assessment: Set checklist, tickets

Hans Zimmer is an unlikely rock star.

For these unfamiliar along with his bona fides, the celebrated 67-year-old German composer made his identify conducting elegant operatic scores for blockbusters like “The Dark Knight,” “Dune,” “James Bond” and actually a whole bunch of different movies. His exemplary work has netted him a pair of Oscars, 5 Grammys and even led to a proposal to replace Saudi Arabia’s Nationwide Anthem.

So, when Zimmer introduced he was embarking on a North American area tour in March 2024, he took the world abruptly.

All of us collectively questioned: what does a Hans Zimmer live performance look or sound like?

He wasn’t giving us clues both. In tandem with the tour announcement, AP Information reported “…there is no conductor, no sheet music in front of each musician, and not a single frame from any of the films he’s referencing.”

This thrilling — if confounding — info served as a little bit of intrigue. Exhibits offered out. In truth, resulting from overwhelming demand, Zimmer needed to prolong the run, which included a penultimate cease at Brooklyn’s Barclays Middle that I attended on Thursday, Feb. 6.

As soon as I acquired there, I kicked myself for not arriving earlier. The road to enter wrapped throughout the Nets’ house area. 1000’s of hip twenty and thirty-somethings with a love for cinematic scores — I’m nonetheless undecided whether or not or not we are able to log the filmic present on Letterboxd — braved the chilly to see the cherubic maestro dwell. Clearly, the person’s fanbase is gigantic.

Lastly, after slowly snaking across the perimeter of the large house for hoops, we have been in. As I took my seat, a smile crept over my face. I used to be beginning to perceive Hans’ daring imaginative and prescient he mapped out almost a 12 months in the past when saying the tour.

An assortment of gamers flanked Zimmer on the spacious stage. Within the foreground have been a flutist and wild-haired electrical guitarist. A pair of passionate feminine drummers held the middle. Head-banging rock star cellists and violinists have been at their facet close to the again. And, whereas there was a strict set checklist, this gifted group was free to create epic, freewheeling music that was equal components managed opera and theatrical rock present.

For the following three hours — sure, you learn that proper; the present ended at 10:50 — the ensemble took the sold-out Barclays Middle on a dramatic, heart-racing journey. In truth, for the complete runtime, I felt like I was the principle character in a film Zimmer scored, a real film geek dream totally realized.

Perhaps there actually was one thing to the “not a single frame from any of the films he’s referencing” concept the “Interstellar” composer dreamed up a 12 months in the past. With out the pictures onscreen to information us, the shifts in tone and depth are extra visceral, extra private, extra pressing.

However, like most good films — excluding nonlinear Chris Nolan masterpieces in fact — let’s begin originally.

Act One

The night acquired underway with Zimmer’s quiet, cathartic “A Time of Quiet Between The Storms.” Reasonably than leaping into the festivities with a bang, the Oscar winner began small. This Center Japanese-inspired composition from “Dune 2” takes its regular time after which steadily constructed to a bombastic crescendo.

Quickly after, the Frankfurt native barreled full velocity forward along with his pulsing, percussion-heavy “Mombasa” straight out of “Inception.” That is chase music personified and, for 5 minutes, it was inconceivable to not air-drum alongside.

With that, the group settled and Zimmer took the mic to vamp since followers have been nonetheless trickling in.

“It’s not easy to get into this place, is it?” he joked. The gang politely laughed. We weren’t right here for light banter, although. Zimmer, who was stalling to ensure all of his followers acquired their cash’s price, lastly dropped the act and delivered his three-part “Wonder Woman Suite.”

Whereas not as iconic as a few of his different works, the music is transformative. On this one, the jubilant epic begins with a plucky sense of optimism earlier than selecting up the tempo and swelling into fist-pumping splendor in the end resulting in anxiety-inducing doom with shades of Led Zeppelin thrown in for good measure. As all the time, Hans lulls us right into a false sense of safety earlier than taking us on a wild experience. This theme — every tune is a hero’s journey — would recur all through the evening.

Sticking to the caped crusaders, Zimmer and his massive scale manufacturing that includes each instrument conceivable slowed issues down but once more with the mournful “Man of Steel” observe “What Are You Going To Do When You’re Not Saving The World.” A way of defeat permeated the cavernous room till the maestro’s booming drummers kicked in. As soon as once more, we felt a way of grand heroism. He was telling the story of everybody within the room. This was our hero’s journey. Lastly, the observe exploded. Ah, sure! That is what it feels prefer to fly. We’re there.

And we hadn’t even gotten to the hits but.

Nonetheless, at this level, the group was consuming from Zimmer’s palm and an unstated settlement amongst the group emerged. This was a fully-packed home however all of us thought it greatest to maintain quiet. Certain, snippets of dialog would dip out and in however this was really a present the place no notice was to be missed. Think about a tennis match the place you need to be on silent mode the entire time. That’s precisely what this present was like..besides it was a rollicking rock live performance.

Subsequent up, Hans took us again to Historical Rome along with his four-pronged “Gladiator” rating. As transportive as his music is, he additionally has a present for creating soundscapes that evoke a time and place. The gang clearly by no means lived in Italy 2,000 years in the past but Zimmer’s music is so proper, so trustworthy, that nothing else may function an equal substitute. The epic, unrelenting composition — the place each instrumentalist shone whereas Hans roamed the stage with a smile protecting almost his complete face — was simply as dynamic as any rollercoaster experience.

Per normal, Zimmer began small with “Gladiator.” This time, he started enjoying a foreboding and romantic piano tune. Then, swooning strings crammed within the sound. Lastly, the drums and shrieking, piercing rock ratcheted up the depth to 11. The theatrical rock and roll washed over us because the bluesy prog opera hit a fever pitch. As soon as full, he paid respects to his silver-haired guitarist — whom he known as “maybe the finest on the planet” — and tell us his star axeman by no means performed the identical factor twice in 206 reveals collectively. Aha. That explains the “no sheet music.” Zimmer actually understands the worth of dwell versus studio.

Then, it hit me. The music is extra the star than Hans is. Whereas at different reveals we go to see a Paul McCartney or Taylor Swift dwell, Zimmer’s work has hidden behind larger-than-life celluloid pictures his entire profession. He jumps from intimate to common. Lulls you into a way of what the tune will probably be earlier than jolting you out of your expectations. He’ll make you effectively up then cheer inside seconds. It’s a sleight of hand that by no means fails.

This was by no means extra true along with his swashbuckling first-act nearer “Jack Sparrow” accompanied by components two and three of “The Pirates of Caribbean Suite” the place he captures the sound of the ocean. The back-and-forth of the accordion and smashing in-your-face violin mixes noise rock with conventional strings and lovely intermittent vocals to create an impressive triumph of spirit teeming with life that pleases healthful film followers and metalheads alike.

Simply as we clamored for extra, Zimmer advised us “The good pieces come after intermission” and the band took 20.

Act II

Following the transient respite — which felt like 20 hours — the band returned to a lot fanfare.

Zimmer, now sporting a leather-based jacket, took little time to hop into his evocative, rough-around-the-edges and uncooked “House of Atreides” straight from “Dune.” Reasonably than show pictures of Chalamet and Walken on projectors, characters from the movie stalked the ground seats and undulated over primal screams creating an immersive high quality that when once more heightened the timeless, cinematic nature of the night.

Quickly after, he zipped right into a throbbing, heavy remix of his five-part “Dark Knight Theme.” For my cash, the dwell model isn’t fairly as nimble because the studio observe that made the ultimate lower the however the dwell model soars larger, shaking and thundering the constructing.

All through the evening, Zimmer made positive every band member had their second within the solar just like the aforementioned guitartist. Every heartfelt tribute was candy however none was higher than the lengthy nights’ greatest gag when the sound man lowered Hans’ voice so he gave the impression of Bane from “Dark Knight Rises” after the maestro effusively praised him. I roared. Hans actually is a showman dropping goofy bits in between probably the most dramatic songs you’ve ever heard.

Gearing up for the grand finale, Hans trotted out his “Last Samurai” rating, which took a minute to settle in. For a second, he captures a way of sinking that’s each ethereal and steel. As soon as once more, this simply may have been the nearer. It was that satisfying.

Then, Zimmer truly actually did peak early.

His peaceable, serene “Interstellar” rating made me really feel as if I used to be floating among the many stars. To not pit the greats in opposition to one another however John Williams’ presence permeated the room. A disco ball shone and sprayed brilliant gentle on us. I used to be seated however felt like I’d ascended to the heavens. For 5 minutes, any nonbeliever would possibly suppose “maybe there really is more out there.”

A daring shock Cirque du Soleil aerial acrobatic present paired with the music led us to a rocking but transferring “Lion King” medley that transported me proper again to my first viewing of the Disney basic. The orchestra rightly earned their second standing ovation right here.

As a cherry on high, Zimmer bailed on the encore charade and sprinkled bossa nova right into a playful rendition of the Bond theme — the person actually is blockbusters’ key ingredient, a grasp craftsman of grandeur fine-tuning each motion — and closed the night with “Time” from “Inception” that was each bit as majestic as a stirring Sigur Ros tune.

Sure, the live performance was a real marathon however now, having seen the maestro strut his stuff, together with a 50-piece band, we’re glad to report his dwell present is as unpredictable and freewheeling as a gorgeously-arranged rock opera could be.

This really is the fully-realized imaginative and prescient he hinted at so way back.

Closing verdict: Zimmer sticks to the “hits” aka the scores you already know and love just like the primal “Paul’s Dream” from “Dune,” fan-favorite “Circle Of Life” out of “Lion King” and surprisingly head-banging “Pirates of the Caribbean Theme” (it’s really superb all these different compositions got here from one thoughts). Nevertheless, it was the gleeful pleasure or “a sense of playfulness” as Zimmer known as it throughout the present, that makes his cinematic symphony that celebrates his earnest love of the flicks important.

He really has a present for beginning small along with his 50 instrumentalists and vocalists and reaching for the largest crescendo potential to create a singular sound that leaves the rapt viewers in a trance-like state.

Ever wished to be the principle character in a blockbuster? See Hans Zimmer dwell.

Hans Zimmer tour schedule 2025

Sadly, Zimmer doesn’t have any extra live shows in North America lined up as of now. All of his remaining reveals are abroad.

Nevertheless, he did share that there will probably be one other tour and stated “it will be a completely new production, setlist, and arrangements,” so maintain a watch out.

Within the meantime, right here’s the place you possibly can see Zimmer dwell in Europe in 2025.

Hans Zimmer set checklist

An entire rundown of all of the tracks Zimmer performed on the Barclays Middle on Feb. 6 could be discovered under, courtesy of Set Checklist FM.

Set I

01.) “A Time of Quiet Between the Storms”

02.) “Mombasa”

03.) “Wonder Woman Suite: Part I”

04.) “Wonder Woman Suite: Part II”

05.) “Wonder Woman Suite: Part III”

06.) “What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World?”

07.) “Dark Phoenix Suite”

08.) “Man of Steel Suite: Part II”

09.) “Gladiator Suite: Part I”

10.) “Gladiator Suite: Part II”

11.) “Gladiator Suite: Part III”

12.) “Gladiator Suite: Part IV”

13.) “Jack Sparrow”

14.) “Pirates of the Caribbean Suite: Part II”

15.) “Pirates of the Caribbean Suite: Part III”

Set II

16.) “House Atreides”

17.) “The Dark Knight Suite: Part I”

18.) “The Dark Knight Suite: Part II”

19.) “The Last Samurai Suite: Part I”

20.) “The Last Samurai Suite: Part II”

21.) “The Last Samurai Suite: Part III”

22.) “X-MDP”

23.) “Paul’s Dream”

24.) “Interstellar Suite: Part I”

25.) “Interstellar Suite: Part II”

26.) “The Lion King Suite: Part I” (with Lebo M)

27.) “The Lion King Suite: Part II”

28.) “The Lion King Suite: Part III” (with Lebo M)

Encore

29.) “No Time to Die Suite”

30.) “Inception: Time”

Observe: Zimmer didn’t truly depart the stage for his encore; the band performed on after “Lion King” straight into the “No Time to Die Suite.”

Big composers on tour in 2025

A shocking variety of iconic composers and classical musicians are bringing their evocative tunes to the folks this 12 months.

Listed here are simply 5 reveals that includes the music of otherworldly abilities you received’t need to miss these subsequent few months.

• John Williams

• Joe Hisaishi

• Yo-Yo Ma

• “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” in live performance

• “Avatar: The Last Airbender” in live performance

Additionally, “The Music of Hans Zimmer” — the maestro’s songs carried out with out him — can also be on tour if you happen to’re hankering for a Hans repair.

Choose a extra commonplace present? Try our checklist of all the largest artists on tour in 2025 to seek out the present for you.

This text was written by Matt Levy, New York Publish dwell occasions reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the most recent tour bulletins out of your favourite musical artists and comedians, in addition to Broadway openings, sporting occasions and extra dwell reveals – and finds nice ticket costs on-line. Since he began his tenure on the Publish in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen live performance and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to call a couple of. Please notice that offers can expire, and all costs are topic to alter