“Top Gun: Maverick” orchestra concert
Surprise appearance by Tom Cruise
Action star Tom Cruise, who likes to do his own stunts, is always good for a surprise.
© Juan Dela Cruz/starmaxinc.com/ImageCollect
First he pulled off a mega stunt at the final of the Olympic Games in Paris, now Tom Cruise also caused a surprise in London.
The approximately 3,000 visitors to the orchestra event “Top Gun: Maverick” in London had not expected this: suddenly film hero Tom Cruise (62) personally greeted the audience in the Royal Albert Hall.
Tom Cruise honors the “power of music”
On Friday, September 27th, his film, released in 2022, was shown there as part of the “Films in Concert” series – and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra under the direction of composer Lorne Balfe played the film music live. In fan-made videos of the event, which appeared on X (formerly Twitter), the “Top Gun” star can be seen and heard standing in a suit in front of the large orchestra, announcing the film and praising the presentation with live music. “I’m thrilled to be here with all of you tonight to share this unique cinematic orchestra experience with ‘Top Gun: Maverick,'” Cruise said as he took the stage to thunderous applause and cheers.
“The power of music and its use in cinema to deepen our experience of the story and our connection to the characters is absolutely magical,” Cruise continued in his remarks. “And for the music you will hear live tonight, I would like to personally thank the extraordinary talents of Harold Faltermeyer, Hans Zimmer, Lady Gaga, OneRepublic and the gentleman who is here tonight who also produced the film music: Lorne Balfe .” The Hollywood star then also thanked the orchestra with “all its extraordinary talents.”
He had “always” wanted to experience a film like this “with a live symphony orchestra, synchronized images, in front of a full audience in the splendor of a classic cinema palace.” “Thank you all for being here and thank you for making this dream come true.”
Hollywood star on the organ
After the event, Tom Cruise took the opportunity to try out the organ himself. This can be seen in images provided by the Concert conductor Ben Palmer and organist Anna Lapwood shared. “My goodness, great balls of fire…” Palmer’s caption read, alluding to the film song of the same name “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis (1935-2022).
Spectacular action in Paris
It was Cruise’s next surprise appearance after his spectacular participation at the closing of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris in August. He jumped from the roof of the Stade de France secured by a rope, grabbed the Olympic flag on the field and raced out of the stadium on a motorcycle. “I’m on my way,” Cruise said in a pre-recorded video as he donned his skydiving gear over California to the sounds of “By the Way” by US band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Cruise then jumped out of the plane and made his way to the iconic Hollywood sign, where he turned the “O”s into Olympic rings. The Olympic Games will take place from July 14th to 30th, 2028 in Los Angeles.
During a panel discussion on September 10, Casey Wasserman, president and chairman of LA28, revealed that Tom Cruise actually performed at the Olympics for free. “The original idea was to have a person in the stadium act as a stunt double,” Wasserman explained according to The Hollywood Reporter. But then Cruise said: “I’m there. But I’ll only do it if I can do everything.”