Eventim Apollo, London, March 8, 2026

Brad Fiedel’s iconic score to James Cameron’s 1991 sci-fi/action classic comes to life through a live musical performance.

The only way the eight-piece Avex Ensemble could hope to top their fantastic tour of 1984’s The Terminator last winter would be to tackle the bigger sequel, Terminator 2. And that’s exactly what they’ve achieved with this stunning world premiere performance of the soundtrack, played to projection of the movie, in Hammersmith’s popular venue.

While sharing the same main theme as its predecessor, Terminator makes a step-up in all departments, from budget and length to sophistication of the effects. But it’s the score that absolutely pops here, building on what has gone before.

Each of the movie’s many set pieces received a round of applause in recognition of how much the music adds to the effect – from the truck and Harley-Davidson canal chase, to the tanker sequence. The movie itself continues to impress with its pioneering CGI that complements Stan Winston’s in-camera effects, but it’s the incidental music that’s a revelation. The movie score is so much more than the metallic main theme.

It’s hard to single out the best performer, as they all work together beautifully, but surely the masterful thrashing of the taiko drums is the most impressive component. The evening’s highlights include an on-screen video pre-show interview with Fiedel, the ensemble playing the StudioCanal and Carolco music idents, and a rocking version on Guns N’ Roses’ You Could be Mine. But ultimately, it’s that theme, clanging and crashing with every bit of metalwork in the percussion section, underlined with the throbbing drums.

Verdict: Top marks again for the Avex Ensemble. A superlative performance that allows you to enjoy the film through a fresh set of eyes. 10/10

Nick Joy