A spectacular night of Hans Zimmer’s magic: The Ukrainian orchestra “Lords of the Sound” presents a wide range of his music at the “Admiralspalast” in Berlin.

On Wednesday I had the honour of visiting the Admiralspalast in Berlin for the first time. The well-known location in the middle of the German capital was transformed into a realm of musical enchantment as the Ukrainian orchestra “Lords of the Sound” brought Hans Zimmer’s iconic compositions to life.

My friend and I, both musical theatre kids, downed our prosecco and sat there like little children waiting for our presents. We were excited by the 5-minute call, the dimming of the lights and finally the musicians coming on stage. Just being back in a theatre was my absolute highlight of the week, going into the night with no expectations.

Finally, the conductor, Shahrokh Fathizadeh, was greeted with a huge round of applause as he led the orchestra through an unforgettable evening. 

From the moment the first note echoed through the hall, it was clear that we were in for an extraordinary evening. The stage was set with an impressive ensemble of musicians. As the lights dimmed, you could feel the excitement of the audience and I could hardly wait for the first number.
The concert opened with the epic soundtrack from Spider Man 2. The emotional depth and precision of each instrument, coupled with the mesmerising visuals on the backdrop, transported the audience into the heart of Zimmer’s cinematic worlds. It was a stunning start that set the tone for the evening. All we could think was “Finally some live music again!”

My personal favourites will always be Inception and Interstellar. I remember learning the ‘Mombasa’ number from Inception at dance school, some time before an accident prevented me from continuing, so when ‘The Lords of the Sound’ decided to play that very track, my heart was happy. My friend and I always looked at each other and compared our goosebumps throughout the numbers.

One of the highlights of the performance was the orchestra’s seamless transition between Zimmer’s compositions. They put each soundtrack beautifully together.
From the rhythms of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ to the moving melodies of ‘Gladiator’, each piece was executed with a level of expertise and passion that left me in awe. The soloists (Yaroslav Radionenko and Yaroslava Taran) were equally impressive, adding their own unique flair to the concert. Especially during Gladiator, I was so glad that the choir and the talent of Yaroslava Taran added an extra layer of depth to the show.
Her vocal control, phrasing and dynamics are flawless. Such clarity in the voice… truly an epic moment to have her perform such big numbers with the power of the orchestra.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions, we laughed through Madagascar’s “I like to move it”, we cried through the emotional soundtrack of Pearl Harbour and had goosebumps through almost every number.

Shahrokh Fathizadeh, with his commanding presence and deep understanding of Zimmer’s compositions, led the orchestra with finesse. The brief insights into the music and Zimmer’s creative process provided valuable context, allowing the audience to connect with the music on a deeper level.

The second act was packed with more of Hans Zimmer’s greatest numbers from movies such as Dune, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Dark Knight. Did you know that he even wrote for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2? I was so impressed by this number. It was so tragically sad and beautiful, giving me all the feels.

The Lords of the Sound concluded this eventful evening with The Lion King, an absolute childhood classic.
In summary, their performance of the music of Hans Zimmer at the Admiralspalast in Berlin was an unforgettable journey through the vast landscapes of cinematic soundscapes. As an actor myself, it was truly inspiring and a reminder of how important film music is.
It was a celebration of Zimmer’s genius, brought to life by a talented orchestra and soloists who left no doubt that they were masters of their craft.

If you have the chance to experience Lords of the Sound’s interpretation of Hans Zimmer’s music, do not miss it. It’s a musical experience that will stay with you long after the last note has faded. We had to end the night with a drink in my favourite bar, sharing our favourite moments of the show. A night I will remember for a very long time.
Thank you Lords of the Sound for bringing your music and performance to Germany, I wish you many wonderful encounters along your tour.

Find all details for the upcoming dates here: www.lordsofthesound.com.

Lords of the Sound will also tour in Germany with their new Show called 38 Samurai, which will start on the 21st of October – purchase your tickets here: www.38samurai.com.

Words by Karoline Hawks