Review
Review
The top five moments from Hans Zimmer’s The Next Level tour
The inimitable German film composer kicks off his UK arena tour in Leeds
Taking shelter from the pouring West Yorkshire rain inside Leeds’ colosseum-style First Direct Arena, you wonder if the thunder and lightning that roars through the PA system is real or not. The lights have just gone down, and Hans Zimmer emerges from the shadows, backed by a panel of cables, wires and flashing lights that resemble the laboratory of a mad scientist.
Tonight, Zimmer’s ‘The Next Level’ tour is making its debut on UK shores, with the titular promise to propel the German film composer’s arena spectacle up another gear. Across two acts, three hours and a total of 37 musical numbers, we spotlighted the top five moments from this extravagant journey through his discography.
The Dark Night raising the curtain
Whether the weather was playing ball or not, the eerie bellows of the main theme from The Dark Knight open the show, with the segments of Zimmer’s orchestra falling into place atop a stage that moves with the rigidity of a machine. The main man rotates instruments, including synth to acoustic guitar, but it’s his Rickenbacker bass that steals the show during our trip to Gotham, almost commanding the aura of Bruce Wayne himself. He’s perhaps only one-upped by the slicked-back man-bun of Colombian bassist Juan García-Herreros, who plants himself directly in front of the front row seats.
Zimmer’s insight into the birth of Interstellar
Hans Zimmer loves any excuse for a story, stretching out the gaps between his orchestra’s vast musical medleys with innocence and humour. He once received a letter from Christopher Nolan, who told Zimmer he “could never look at the world any other way than through his child’s eyes” after the birth of his son. The delicate, fragile music that Zimmer composed after reading the letter would help Nolan find “the heart of the story” that became Interstellar. Through tonight’s resultant medley, the minimalism of the disco-ball-style human suspended in mid-air is an outstanding focal point. The epic string section colours in the tension of a film that – despite its sci-fi narrative – also weaves from the gut-wrenching to the heart-warming, when it comes to family and parenthood.
A Yorkshire greeting followed by a gift from Manchester
Did anyone expect Hans Zimmer to come out with an “Ay up!” for Leeds? Well, the laughter is soon replaced by boos when he introduces a guitarist from arch-rivals Manchester with a familiar name. Nile Marr, the son of The Smiths’ guitarist Johnny, is an important component of ‘The Next Level’ setup alongside Guthrie Govan, particularly when we spot at least four bassists who have to divide the limelight between them. In ‘Time’, tonight’s closing number from Inception, Marr’s blue Fender Jazzmaster takes centre stage, while Govan’s stylish riff-work makes Pirates Of The Caribbean number ‘The Kraken’ sound like Muse.
The colourful, vibrant side quest to Africa
Although many of Zimmer’s standout themes bring a tear to your eye, some fans in the First Direct Arena find themselves dancing after Lebo M – aka the voice of The Lion King – sneaks around the side of the stage to emerge at the summit for Elton John’s ‘Circle Of Life’. That’s because ‘Busa’ is infectiously summery, while animals orbit the screen and some animated percussionists encourage the audience to clap along. ‘Stampede’ is urgent and furious, invoking the dread of Mufasa’s imminent death with the addition of a brass section, before Zimmer counters the tension with a typically light-hearted remark. “A crazy German will get it wrong and add six French horns to Africa!”
The ending we’ve all been waiting for
Throughout the evening, audience members shouting for “Pirates!” have been kept patient – because Zimmer has arguably saved his trump card to the end. ‘One Day’ and ‘He’s A Pirate’ – which is actually Klaus Badelt’s iconic theme – remain timeless and flamboyant, melding all the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow into one fluid wave. With no announcement – but maximum impact – Zimmer and his grand piano plant themselves at the apex of the stage for one last encore of ‘Time’. After a standing ovation, bows and high-fives for everyone conclude proceedings with the warmth and personability that Hans Zimmer pours into ‘The Next Level’.
Photos by Anthony Longstaff
