The Cleveland Orchestra: The Lion King at Blossom Music Center

Blossom Music Festival 2025: The Lion King

When ‘The Lion King’ hit the big screens around the globe in 1994, the entire world fell in love with little Simba, his majestic father, his friends, and of course, his sleazy uncle and his gang of hyenas. We followed his tale wide-eyed, on the edge of our seats, laughing and crying, feeling every moment of both joy and sadness on a cellular level. Even today, just over three decades later, the film still stands its ground, and can hold its own against any modern animation - and even non-animations. 

One of the biggest reasons for this?

Hans Zimmer’s score for ‘The Lion King’ is perfect. It underlines everything - from the witty comedy to the harrowing drama, from the chill-inducing scenery to the breathtaking intensity. Tapping heavily into the life and spirit of the African savannah, the award-winning maestro’s music packs one emotional punch after the other, capturing every mood perfectly. Not only is ‘The Lion King’ rated as one of Hans Zimmer’s best film scores, but it also landed the composer the Academy Award for Best Original Score. 

Apart from just the award-winning composer, the entire underscore employed a notable team of Oscar and Grammy Award winners, including superstar Elton John, lyricist Tim Rice, and the Grammy Award-winning South African producer, Lebo M. All in all, ‘The Lion King’ took home no less than two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award, and is considered by many as the greatest animated film ever made. 

To experience ‘The Lion King’ with a live orchestral underscore by one of the nation’s top orchestras, is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Goosebumps are guaranteed - from Lebo M’s famous call at the very beginning to the sweeping panpipe melodies sketching the vast savannah, from the ominous harmonies accompanying the evil forces at play to the stunning finale - not to even mention the popular hits such as ‘Circle Of Life’, ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King’, ‘Hakuna Matata’, and ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’. 

The Blossom Music Centre

And what better venue could there possibly be for such a fantastic experience than the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra - the Blossom Music Centre? Superb live music meeting a superb film on a different level - this has got to be the best experience anyone could possibly dream of! With the venue’s fantastic sight-lines, acoustics, light and sound, natural park setting to almost give that savannah-feel, and seating for up to 19,000 patrons spread across a reserved seating area as well as a general admission lawn, you, your friends, and family are in for one of the most memorable experiences of your lives! 

So make sure to get your tickets now - they are selling out fast!