Illuminated Orchestra: A Tribute to Hans Zimmer & Film Favourites

There are some evenings where you leave thinking, wow, I really needed that.

That was exactly how I felt after seeing the Illuminated Orchestra perform A Tribute to Hans Zimmer & Film Favourites at Chichester Cathedral.

We went along to the second show of the evening, not really knowing quite what to expect. But as the lights went down and the first notes of Jurassic Park filled the cathedral, it became very clear that this was going to be something special.

For a while, Chichester disappeared.

Instead, we were taken through some of the most memorable films of our childhood and beyond, with Gladiator, E.T., Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter and Indiana Jones among the highlights.

And I have to admit, I found myself grinning from cheek to cheek.

There was just something about hearing these pieces live that made you feel incredibly happy. For a couple of hours, the outside world seemed to disappear. Whatever was happening outside the cathedral didn’t really matter. We were there, enjoying the music and the memories that came with it.

At several points, I found myself closing my eyes for a few seconds.

You hear a familiar piece of music and suddenly you’re back watching that film as a child. A scene comes into your head, you remember a character, or you simply remember how you felt watching it all those years ago.

That’s the brilliant thing about film music. Sometimes you don’t even realise how strongly you’ve connected a piece of music with a particular memory until you hear it again.

The programme moved effortlessly between the different films, with Musical Director Kellija Moncaka narrating between pieces. Her introductions added a lovely bit of context without taking anything away from the music, and helped make the transitions from one piece to the next feel completely natural.

The Illuminated Orchestra were fantastic throughout. There was plenty of energy when the music called for it, but also some beautifully quieter moments where you could just sit back and take it all in.

And the setting of Chichester Cathedral only added to the experience. Hearing these huge cinematic scores surrounded by the cathedral’s atmosphere made the whole evening feel that little bit more magical.

What I loved most, though, was how easy it was to simply switch off.

There wasn’t anything complicated about it. Sit back, listen and let the music do the rest.

One minute you’re in Chichester, and the next you’re somewhere in Jurassic Park, sailing alongside Pirates of the Caribbean, stepping into the world of Harry Potter or remembering the adventures of Indiana Jones.

That’s a pretty good way to spend an evening.

The Illuminated Orchestra managed to do something that great film music has always done. Tell a story without saying a word, bring back memories you had almost forgotten and, for a little while, make you forget about everything else.

A genuinely magical evening, full of nostalgia, brilliant music and plenty of moments that brought a huge smile to my face.

If you love films, chances are you’ll recognise more than a few of these pieces, and I’d definitely recommend experiencing them live.

Thank you to Illuminated Orchestra for providing us with complimentary tickets in exchange for our honest review.