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, the 2014 masterpiece written and directed by Christopher Nolan, 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.
And that score by Hans Zimmer? Often imitated but never bettered, it is Zimmer’s magnum opus and one that will remain long after we leave this Earth.
But hearing a live orchestra bring his iconic 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 the human spirit.
PART 2: INTERSTELLAR LIVE
Making its Japan premiere this week, INTERSTELLAR LIVE was performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Matt Dunkley with organ solos by Charles Andrews.
The film was played without overture, entr’acte or post-credits music, and was screened in its original English with Japanese subtitles. In addition, a 20-minute intermission was held just after the scene where Professor Brand (played by Michael Caine) dies in the hospital.
PART 3: A GALAXY OF HIGHLIGHTS
As an experience, INTERSTELLAR LIVE works because it does something you cannot get from seeing it at the cinema: seeing human players bringing the music to life on stage simply gives the film another layer. It makes the science seem more real, and the emotions on screen seem more genuine and relatable. And with the superlative performance by the orchestra and organ soloist last night, it really was an unforgettable experience.
There were so many highlights at yesterday’s performance, with almost every one of them causing tears to stream down my cheeks.
Allow me then to highlight 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, elevating it to a level of emotion 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 as she delivers that line? Absolute perfection.
PART 4: A MINOR MOUNTAIN
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 in the mix a bit? Either way, I felt the scene had less of an impact than the first time I saw it.
Despite this minor issue, there really was nothing to fault about this tremendous concert experience.
PART 5: LOST FOR WORDS
As I sit here thinking and writing about INTERSTELLAR LIVE, I continue to struggle to find ways to describe this live-to-picture concert that I have just experienced.
The film, the music and the whole experience was simply transcendent, and I will just leave it at that.
Go see it live – and don’t forget to bring tissues!
PART 5: CONCERT FLYER
All ticket holders for the Tokyo performance at Hitomi Memorial Hall received a mini A4-sized concert flyer promoting the Japan tour of concert:
This will look mighty fine on the wall!
PART 6: 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.
