Some of the most recognisable and powerful music ever written for the big screen will come together in one major live production when The Big 3 - Cinematic Legends takes over the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC), Ta' Qali, on Saturday 16 January at 7.30pm.
Presented by Jemmbiz Events, this spectacular concert celebrates the music of three giants of film composition - Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone and John Williams - together with other unforgettable music from the world of cinema.
At the heart of the production is an exceptional line-up of internationally acclaimed artists with direct connections to some of the world's most important cinematic music productions: Gavin Greenaway, conductor, pianist and long-standing collaborator of Hans Zimmer; violinist Rusanda Panfili, who has performed as a solo violinist with Hans Zimmer and Andrea Bocelli; renowned multi-winds soloist Pedro Eustache, whose recording credits include Hans Zimmer's Dune; and Carla Chamoun, touring vocalist with The World of Hans Zimmer.
They will perform together with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and Kor Malta, bringing the scale, colour and emotional power of the symphonic film score to the MFCC stage.
The artistic vision of the production is led by Rusanda Panfili as Artistic Director, while Mro Dr Joseph Grech serves as Curator, bringing together the concept, repertoire, artists and international collaboration behind The Big 3 - Cinematic Legends.
Three composers. Decades of unforgettable cinema
From sweeping themes and intimate musical moments to the enormous orchestral sound associated with modern blockbuster cinema, The Big 3 has been conceived as much more than a traditional orchestral concert.
The programme will journey through the musical worlds of Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone and John Williams - three composers whose scores have accompanied some of the most memorable moments in cinema history.
Audiences can expect music associated with epic adventure, science fiction, westerns, drama, romance and fantasy, performed by a large symphonic and choral ensemble and enhanced by a specially conceived visual production.
Live orchestra, choir, internationally renowned soloists, lighting and cinematic visual elements will combine to transform the MFCC into an immersive celebration of film music.
Artists from the heart of the cinematic music world
A defining feature of The Big 3 - Cinematic Legends is that its featured artists do not simply perform this repertoire: they bring first-hand experience of the international artists, recordings and concert productions associated with the music being celebrated.
Rusanda Panfili, who also serves as Artistic Director of The Big 3, has performed as a solo violinist with Hans Zimmer and Andrea Bocelli, establishing an international career that bridges classical virtuosity with some of the world's most prominent cinematic and crossover productions. Her distinctive sound and commanding stage presence will place the violin at the heart of several of the evening's musical highlights.
Multi-winds virtuoso Pedro Eustache brings an equally remarkable connection to the world of film music. His extensive recording work includes Hans Zimmer's score for Dune, where his distinctive instrumental palette contributed to the extraordinary sound world of the film. His ability to perform across a remarkable range of traditional and contemporary wind instruments will be showcased live in Malta.
Carla Chamoun is a touring vocalist with The World of Hans Zimmer, bringing to The Big 3 direct experience of one of the world's leading international live productions celebrating Zimmer's music. Her voice adds another dimension to the evening's orchestral and cinematic soundscape.
Leading the musical forces will be Gavin Greenaway, Music Director, Conductor and Pianist. Greenaway's long professional association with Hans Zimmer has placed him at the centre of major film-music recordings and spectacular international concert productions.
Together, these internationally experienced artists bring to Malta a remarkable depth of first-hand experience from the contemporary film-music world.
Curated and developed in Malta
The concept and overall production are curated by Mro Dr Joseph Grech, whose work through Jemmbiz Events has focused on developing ambitious large-scale productions and bringing together Maltese and international artists.
As Curator of The Big 3 - Cinematic Legends, Mro Dr Grech has brought together the artistic and production elements of the project, working alongside Artistic Director Rusanda Panfili and the international artistic team to create a concert that combines the impact of contemporary cinematic productions with the power of a live symphony orchestra and choir.
The project has been conceived not simply as a single concert, but as a production with an international identity and the potential to be presented beyond Malta.
Malta's national orchestra and choir on a cinematic scale
Joining the international artists will be the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, together with Kor Malta, creating the large symphonic and choral forces required to bring these monumental scores to life.
The combination of orchestra, choir, soloists and state-of-the-art production will allow audiences to experience the music on the scale for which it was conceived - from the most delicate solo passages to the full impact of orchestra and chorus.
Rather than simply presenting a sequence of film themes, The Big 3 aims to create a complete cinematic concert experience, in which music, lighting and visuals work together to take the audience on a journey through some of cinema's most evocative musical landscapes.
From Malta to an international stage
The January concert represents an important milestone for Jemmbiz Events, bringing together internationally established performers and Malta's national artistic forces for a production conceived from the outset with an international dimension.
The Big 3 - Cinematic Legends has been developed as a production capable of travelling beyond Malta to major European venues and culturally significant settings, showcasing a project developed in Malta to international audiences.
The project forms part of Jemmbiz Events' continuing commitment to creating ambitious large-scale productions in Malta while developing international collaborations and opportunities for Maltese artistic forces.
More than a concert
The concept behind The Big 3 also recognises the extraordinary influence film music has had in introducing new generations to orchestral music.
Through its combination of familiar cinematic repertoire, world-renowned artists, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and Kor Malta, the production aims to create a bridge between the concert hall and contemporary popular culture, introducing the power of a live symphony orchestra to an exceptionally broad audience.
It is an evening designed both for dedicated film-music followers and for audiences experiencing a large-scale orchestral concert for the first time.