What soundtrack or song instantly transports you back into a film? On Saturday 7 March 2026, Galway’s Town Hall Theatre will host The Hans Zimmer Experience, a live performance celebrating one of the most influential film composers of our time; whose music has shaped many emotional landscapes of modern cinema.
Hans Zimmer is known for creating immersive sound worlds that blend classical orchestration with electronic textures. His scores (spanning more than 130 films including Dune, Interstellar, The Dark Knight and The Lion King) have earned him Oscars, a BAFTA, Grammys and have become inseparable from the films they accompany.
Following a run of sold-out performances in 2025 with The Ennio Morricone Experience, the ensemble returns with a new programme devoted to Zimmer’s work. The group brings together flute, piano, strings and voice, reimagining iconic themes from Pirates of the Caribbean to Inception in an intimate live setting. At the heart of the performance is Irish soprano Katy Kelly, whose voice acts as both narrator and emotional anchor.
A voice shaped by drama and patience
Ms Kelly’s relationship with performance began early. Drawn to drama as a child, she spent much of her youth on theatre stages before gradually finding her way to opera. “I was good at singing opera, but I wasn’t convinced it was what I wanted to do,” she said. In her early twenties, after completing a degree in biochemistry, she made the decisive leap into singing full-time; a choice that would shape the rest of her career.
Opera, however, is a discipline that demands time. For Ms Kelly, one of the greatest challenges was waiting for her voice to mature alongside her experience. As an opera singer, you need to wait for the voice to catch up. She also noted that auditions, touring and the solitude that comes with life on the road can also be testing.
“Now that I’m doing opera in my forties, it’s incredibly rewarding. My voice matches what it’s supposed to, and I’m not touring as much. Singing a role and feeling the audience connect with the character; that’s the most satisfying part.”
Connection over recognition
Ms Kelly has represented Ireland at major European competitions including the Belvedere International Singing Competition in Vienna, the International Vocal Competition in the Netherlands and the Stuart Burrows Competition in Wales. Yet she is candid about her ambivalence towards competitions.
“They’re ultimately a small group of people’s opinions. You can have a very fulfilling career without international recognition,” she reflects. What matters more to her is connection, not adjudication.
“When you sing for ordinary people, they’re looking to be comforted. That’s completely different from singing for someone whose job is to judge you.”
Where opera meets Irish tradition
Over the course of her career, the Irish soprano has performed an extensive repertoire spanning opera and oratorio. One defining moment came early on, when she was cast as the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute; a role renowned for its technical difficulty and emotional intensity.
Alongside her international work, Katy Kelly has consistently returned to Irish musical heritage. As the granddaughter of a traditional Irish musician, she keeps that lineage alive through art song performances and teaching abroad.
“We have such a rich tradition of Irish art song. Whenever I do recitals, I always include Irish composers like Hamilton Harty or Thomas Moore. My students abroad love learning them too.”
Reimagining Hans Zimmer
The Hans Zimmer Experience allows Ms Kelly to approach music differently from traditional opera. Unlike operatic performance, this concert uses microphones, enabling a more intimate vocal delivery.
“I can use my voice more gently. It gives me space to explore colours that aren’t always available in opera; including sounds that feel closer to pop or folk styles, while still grounded in classical technique,” she explains.
The ensemble discovered that Zimmer’s music naturally lends itself to this format. The programme is built around well-known pieces, reimagined in unexpected ways. While much of it draws on recognisable themes, there are also surprises; including music from Sherlock Holmes and fresh interpretations of The Lion King, originally written by Elton John.
The arrangements have been created by the ensemble themselves, using Zimmer’s scores as a foundation. With piano, strings and flute standing in for a full orchestra, the result is both subtle and powerful; offering familiar music a renewed emotional immediacy.
Galway, on and off stage
Performing in Galway holds personal significance for Katy Kelly, who describes the city and Salthill as some of her favourite places in Ireland to visit with her family. “You carry that feeling on stage. There’s something special about performing in a place you genuinely love,” she said.
As anticipation builds for the March performance, the singer promises an evening that appeals not only to film enthusiasts, but to anyone open to a distinctive live music experience.
“Even the lesser-known pieces are engaging. People can expect high-calibre musicianship, and to leave feeling uplifted; like they’ve genuinely experienced something.”The Hans Zimmer Experience takes place at Town Hall Theatre, Galway, on Saturday 7 March 2026. Tickets (€27.50) are available via the theatre’s website.
