Oscar-winning German composer Hans Zimmer has produced some of Hollywood鈥檚 best-known film scores, written countless pieces of music and recently put on sold-out live shows across Europe.
But decades into his illustrious career, he says the same fleeting thought still enters his mind every time he walks towards the stage: 鈥淚t's going to be a disaster. I am going to fail.鈥�
The idea that something might go 鈥渉orribly, horribly wrong鈥� is borne out of stage fright that everyone has, Zimmer said in an interview from New York.
鈥淏ut ultimately, the experience of making the connection with all those people 鈥� is so much more rewarding and so much more wonderful in a very different way than making a movie. The movie only works once," said the 66-year-old, who won his second Academy Award for his work on Quebec director Denis Villeneuve鈥檚 鈥淒une.鈥�
鈥淚 can鈥檛 help it,鈥� Zimmer said. 鈥淚 have to put on a show.鈥�
He is bringing the high-energy Hans Zimmer Live tour to North America later this year, including stops in three Canadian cities.
It will kick off in Duluth, Ga., on Sept. 6 and end in Vancouver on Oct. 6. There will also be stops in Montreal on Sept. 17 and Toronto on Sept. 19.
Zimmer鈥檚 band and the orchestra will perform a selection of some of his most beloved scores, including music from blockbusters 鈥淕ladiator,鈥� 鈥淭he Lion King,鈥� 鈥淧irates of the Caribbean,鈥� 鈥淭he Dark Knight,鈥� 鈥淚nterstellar鈥� 鈥� and of course, 鈥淒une.鈥�
He said the shows will feature 鈥渆xtraordinary鈥� musicians who make up what he believes to be 鈥渢he best band in the world鈥� right now.
鈥淚 have about as much stagecraft as a dead lobster. They know what they're doing,鈥� Zimmer said. 鈥淚 just treat the whole thing as if it was a dinner party.鈥�
Zimmer, whose work also earned him four Grammys, said he was partly driven to live performances after his friends 鈥渂adgered鈥� him about spending his career in a dark room, behind a computer screen. But he also wanted to see if the music he created for the big screen could 鈥渟tand on its own two feet,鈥� which is why not a single movie frame is featured in the shows.
鈥淚t's very much a rock 'n' roll attitude,鈥� Zimmer said of the tour, noting that the music moves audiences differently, depending on the generation 鈥� and location.
鈥淚 look out and I see a grandma with her grandson sitting next to a punk with a mohawk, sitting next to a guy in a business suit, sitting next to two little girls. And it's fabulous because it means something different to everybody who was there.鈥�
Zimmer said he鈥檚 especially thrilled about the upcoming tour dates in Canada.
"What I love about Canadian audiences is: You're polite. Until I unleash you. And then you guys go crazy,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I love that.鈥�
Zimmer recalled performing 鈥渢wo very sort of average shows鈥� years ago and then heading to Montreal, where the reception was very different.
鈥淚t was like, whoa 鈥� hold on to your hat,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was absolutely brilliant.鈥�
Zimmer鈥檚 affinity for Canada is also rooted in his successful collaborations with Villeneuve. The composer also created the score for the recently released 鈥淒une: Part Two鈥� and is poised to keep writing more music for an anticipated third instalment of the sci-fi franchise.
鈥淒o you ever get to do things with your best friend? That鈥檚 what it鈥檚 like (working with Villeneuve),鈥� Zimmer said.
鈥淚t's impossible to describe music, and it's impossible to describe some of the images he's creating. So I just start playing 鈥� and sometimes I get from him: 鈥極h, yeah, that鈥檚 sort of what I heard in my head.鈥欌��
In a way, Zimmer has a similar relationship with his live audiences, describing them as his music collaborators and 鈥渃o-conspirators.鈥�
鈥淲e're figuring out in this crazy language of music that doesn't need words, that we can connect in an extraordinary way,鈥� he said.
Tickets for the Hans Zimmer Live tour in U.S. and Canada, presented by Semmel Concerts and Concerts West, go on sale March 22 at .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 14, 2024.
Sonja Puzic, The Canadian Press
