A conductor wielding a lightsaber, wearing a fedora and getting the audience to sing a famous five-note tune. 

These were just some of the highlights from the outstanding concert at the New Theatre titled: The Music of Hans Zimmer and John Williams. 

Perhaps the names of these film music composing legends may not sound familiar to some, but the music is universally known. 

Everyone knows the music to Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman and ET. All John Williams. 

Hans Zimmer, the younger of the two, also has a mightily impressive back catalogue of scores from films such as Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Dark Knight. 

So to have a concert with music exclusively by these two is a real treat for any film music fan. 

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Hans Zimmer and John Williams concert (Image: Newsquest) What struck me most is the stark difference between their two musical styles. 

Williams uses big, sweeping melodies with lots of brass. The tunes get stuck in your head very easily. 

However Zimmer's music is much more atmospheric, in the background. When watching a film, you may not necessarily notice a Hans Zimmer soundtrack, but the difference would be stark without it. 

Anthony Inglis was masterful in his conducting of the London Concert Orchestra. I'm an amateur musician myself, double bass specifically, and I have actually played most of the pieces in the programme with a group called The Film Orchestra. 

So to hear such familiar tunes played by a professional orchestra was an utter joy. 

The concert opened with the triumphant theme to Superman by John Williams. For many, Christopher Reeve's portrayal of Superman is one of the most well-known superhero film of all time. 

Next up was Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, also by John Williams. The conductor teased the audience by saying that the piece would be recognised by the first three notes.

He wasn't wrong. As the piece starts, I always make sure I watch the fingers of the violinists. The speeds with which they move in the first section always boggles the mind. 

Then came the first Hans Zimmer piece of the evening, from the film Inception. It's titled Time and it's quite mesmorising.

Next up was the John Williams theme to Hook, followed by his score to The Terminal which featured some excellent virtuoso clarinet playing.

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Hans Zimmer (Image: Contributed) The epic theme to Gladiator came next. Hans Zimmer's score is almost akin to Mars from The Planets by Holst. 

After the John Williams score to ET came the close for the first half, The Dark Knight. This is prime Hans Zimmer. Dark, brooding.

But I find it incredibly rhythmic. I couldn't help but tap long to the percussion part. 

The second half opened with the iconic Pirates of the Caribbean before Anthony Inglis donned a fedora to conduct the Raider's March from the first Indiana Jones film. 

After two lesser known pieces from The Witches of Eastwick by John Williams and The Da Vinci Code by Hans Zimmer came an all time favourite. 

John Williams is at his triumphant best with the score to Jurassic Park. The orchestra took it at a fair pace and it sounded brilliant. 

John Williams (Image: Steve Granitz) The score to Close Encounters of the Third Kind was up next and is one of John Williams' less well known works. However, music plays a pivotal role in the film's plot.

Humans communicate with aliens through a simple five-not melody. Anthony Inglis wanted to drive home to this point so got the packed crowd to sing along. 

Then came, what we thought, was the concert's final piece. Man of Steel is a modern retelling of the Superman story.

I have never seen the film, but I adore Hans Zimmer's soundtrack. It manages to marry epic, heroic themes with beautiful, sweeping melodies. 

It would be very brave to perform a concert featuring John Williams music without playing anything from Star Wars. But fear not, as the encore calmed my fears. The Star Wars theme is the epitome of John Williams. 

The composer, now in his 90s, has been the main man on all nine films of the Skywalker Saga.

And to see the conductor Anthony Inglis enter the stage for the last time in a jedi robe and a lightsaber in hand capped off a truly special evening. 

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About the author  

Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. 

He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. 

Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby