Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer

Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer comes to the Seattle Public Library - Central Library on Friday, October 9, 2026. It's a tribute to the film scores of Hans Zimmer, played by the Seattle String Quartet—violin, viola, and cello—under the glow of thousands of LED candles. The format pairs chamber music with movie soundtracks, and the organizers describe it as a calm, atmospheric experience full of warmth.

That venue is a Seattle landmark in its own right. The Central Library is an eleven-story glass-and-steel building that opened in 2004, designed by Rem Koolhaas and LMN Architects. Inside, it's home to the Books Spiral, the vibrant Red Room, and a 275-seat auditorium where this concert takes place. It's a tribute show, so it isn't affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Hans Zimmer, his estate, or his official representatives.

The music is the main draw here. Zimmer's work is some of the most recognizable in modern cinema, and hearing those scores stripped down to a string quartet changes the feel—it's more about the melodies and the arrangements than the big orchestral sound you'd get in a theater. The LED candles are part of the setup, meant to set a specific mood for the hour.

Logistics: The show starts at 8:45 PM and runs for 60 minutes, with doors opening 30 minutes before. Tickets are $28.