The Music of Zimmer vs Williams

The London Concert Orchestra are playing Swansea Building Society Arena on Saturday 8 May 2027, with a programme that puts two of the biggest names in film music, Hans Zimmer and John Williams, head-to-head. It's a night built around the scores that have defined the cinema for decades, played live by a full orchestra rather than coming from the screen.

The set list pulls from the most recognisable music of the screen, with Zimmer's bold, immersive soundscapes set against Williams' timeless, iconic themes. You'll hear music from Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars, ET, Harry Potter, Gladiator, Interstellar, Superman and many more. It's a broad sweep of film history, and the programme doesn't stick to one era or one style, so it works whether you're more into the sweeping orchestral themes of the 70s and 80s or the heavier, more atmospheric textures of the later years.

Behind the music is the London Concert Orchestra, who'll be bringing these scores to life on the night. The whole thing is framed as a bit of a face-off between the two composers, with their different approaches to film scoring playing out across the set. It's a good way to hear how two very different styles have shaped the way we think about movie music.

The concert starts at 7:30pm and runs for two hours and ten minutes, including an interval. Tickets start from £27.00, and there's an age guidance in place: under-16s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. The venue is the Swansea Building Society Arena on Oystermouth Road in Bae Copr Bay, SA1 3BX.