INTERSTELLAR LIVE
Music composed by Hans Zimmer
Conducted by Matt Dunkley
Performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
Organ solos by Charles Andrews
September 18, 2026
Showa Women’s University – Hitomi Memorial Hall
Tokyo, Japan
PART 1: A MASTERPIECE OF MUSIC AND CINEMA
INTERSTELLAR LIVE, a live-to-picture concert performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Matt Dunkley with organ solos by Charles Andrews, finally made its Japan premiere this week.
This Christopher Nolan masterpiece requires no introduction. Simply put, it is both sci-fi spectacle and grand account of how a father’s love for his child can push him to achieve the impossible.
But hearing a live orchestra bring this iconic Hans Zimmer score to life as the film plays live? Nothing but feels and nothing but an even greater appreciation for the power of music, film, and indeed, life.
I really can’t describe what an experience it was to hear INTERSTELLAR LIVE, but let me try by simply stating that parts of this movie reached above the bounds of human emotion.
PART 2: A GALAXY OF HIGHLIGHTS
There were just too many highlights to mention at last night’s performance at Hitomi Memorial Hall, with almost every one of them causing tears to stream down my cheeks.
In any case, here are a select few:
THE SEPARATION
“Stay” on the OST
Before leaving Earth, Cooper tries to farewell a ten-year-old Murph on good terms but leaves with issues unresolved. As he speeds away in his pickup truck and Murph comes rushing out of the house, Zimmer’s score builds and rages like a wildfire, leaving a gaping wound full of pain and regret. As a father to a nine-year-old myself, hearing and seeing this live absolutely wrecked me.
SPACECRAFT OVER SATURN
“Message from Home” on the OST
A short respite comes in the form of a stark piano solo as we see the Endurance spacecraft make its way across Saturn. This piece evokes quiet loneliness and despair in the most beautiful way, with the pianist absolutely nailing it with their performance.
FAREWELL, BRAND
“Detach,” specifically 5:32 – 6:00 from the OST
My favourite part of the entire concert lasted moments yet it was so incredibly satisfying – I am of course talking about the scene where Cooper and Brand are sling shotting around Gargantua.
Again, Zimmer’s score keeps building and building until the whole orchestra explodes with the most jaw-dropping climax as Cooper decides to detach his spacecraft to lighten the Endurance so that Brand can safely make it to the other planet.
Coupled with the images and what is at stake in the story, the music absolutely makes this scene, wrapping it in a kind of transcendence that is beyond description.
TOGETHER AGAIN
“Where We’re Going” from the OST
What can be said about that finale in the hospital as Cooper is finally reunited with Murph? It starts tentatively on the organ, but as Murph explains that she knew her dad would return “because my dad promised me” absolutely broke me. And that delicate performance on the organ – absolute perfection. You could hear it, see it, and feel it deep within your bones. What a moment!
PART 3: MOUNTAINS & POEMS
With those highlights out of the way, I would be remiss to leave out one minor quibble I had with the concert.
My favorite track from the OST is “Mountains,” and the scene it accompanies shows the Endurance crew frantically trying to escape the gigantic wave that is about to wipe them out.
When I first saw this in the cinema many years ago, I remember being absolute blown away by the overwhelming wave of music and sound effects as the enormous wave is revealed for the first time. But during the night’s performance it felt somewhat subdued in volume – perhaps because of the hall’s acoustics or maybe because it was dialed down a bit? Either way, I felt the scene had less of an impact than the first time I saw it.
And if I were to recommend a way to launch the whole INTERSTELLAR LIVE experience to another level, I would throw in a post-credits recap of the main theme for solo organ as the words for that Dylan Thomas poem, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” are projected on screen. Who wouldn’t stay (and bawl their eyes out) for that?
PART 4: LOST FOR WORDS
As I sit here writing, I continue struggling to find ways to describe this live-to-picture concert that I have just experienced.
If there is a plane of experience that rises above what is transcendent, then seeing INTERSTELLAR LIVE would most certainly be it.
Without doubt a film and score for the ages… go see it live!
PART 5: OVER TO YOU
Did you go to this concert too? How did you like it?
And what did you think of my report? Feel free to comment below or reach out to me directly in the “Contact Me” section.
