Maltese film composer Frank Bonnici to perform at Malta Society of Arts
On Wednesday, the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta will host a film music concert with Frank Bonnici, a Maltese pianist based in Prague who specialises in jazz and classical music. The pianist will be playing unique cinematic scores by well-known composers that are bound to transport viewers to the 20th and 21st century.
The lineup will feature four musicians playing a range of genres for everyone to enjoy, including jazz, pop, bolero, ballads, and semi-classic music. The programme includes a number of well-known compositions, including those from Love Story (1970), ‘The Godfather’ (1972), ‘Harry Potter’ (2001–2011), and other famous films.
In an interview with Times of Malta, Bonnici revealed that he got his start in 2013 when he was asked to perform live piano music for live screenings of two of the earliest films ever shot in Malta, ‘Bolibar’ (1928) and ‘Sons of the Sea’ (1925). The event, a collaboration between the Central Public Library and the Malta Film Commission, took place in Żebbuġ and Mdina, where Bonniċi played to a great turnout. Given his background in jazz and classical music, it came naturally to him.
After the event, Bonnici discovered a passion for scoring films and began to do it for a living“Film music gives me more excitement,” he says. His most recent piece, ‘A Night in Branik’ for the film ‘Piano Crossroads’, was composed in Prague and is presently playing in theatres like Lucerna and Pilotu. At a point in his career, the pianist was given the opportunity to teach actress Sienna Miller the piano for two weeks, to get her ready for the part of a piano teacher in the 2018 motion picture ‘The Catcher was a Spy’. Additionally, Bonnici has also written music for some documentaries in Prague.
The concert will be held at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta tomorrow, January 17, at 7 pm. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here!
