With legendary music composer Hans Zimmer bringing his wide repertoire of original scores to Hong Kong, courtesy of the The Hans Zimmer Live On Tour, what unfolded recently at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre was indeed a night to remember for the thousands who had gathered for his performance.

Recognised as Hollywood’s most prolific composer, Zimmer needs no introduction. Spanning a career of several decades, the music maven has scored more than 150 projects across all mediums, which, combined, have grossed more than 28 billion US dollars at the worldwide box office. It is with the choicest scores from this wide selection of musical bonanza that Zimmer chose to serenade Hong Kong’s music-minded folks.

So the Hans Zimmer Live On Tour – accompanied ably by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra – took concert-goers on an immersive audiovisual journey as Zimmer and his team played one iconic score after another from Crimson Tide, The Lion King, Gladiator, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception and Interstellar. But while he played a musical medley from different films, nowhere did it seem incoherent, instead, blending together to form a narrative that is as mesmerising as it is unique. In what was surely a goosebumps-inducing moment for those gathered, singer Lebo M, who had sung the original African vocals in The Lion King sound score, joined Zimmer on stage and held the audience captive with his soul-stirring voice.

And therein lies the true success of Zimmer’s concert. While the energetic 62-year-old held sway over the audience at all times, never did it feel as if his accompanying musicians are overshadowed by him. Indeed, each performer, be it Chinese-American cellist Tina Guo or British guitarist Guthrie Govan, shines on brilliantly by the sheer virtue of their own talents, bolstered even further by the accompanying artists, who together create a musical experience like no other.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay