Classic Brit double for movies maestro

The movie maestro beat Ludovico Einaudi and Arvo Pärt to the composer prize for his work on the soundtracks to box office hits Man Of Steel and The Dark Knight Rises.

King of the waltz Andre Rieu was another big winner at last night’s ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall as he took the album of the year prize for a third successive year

The event – at which Gareth Malone’s new ensemble Voices made its public debut – also honoured the late opera superstar Luciano Pavarotti. His widow Nicoletta Mantovani accepted a lifetime achievement award, presented by his colleague in the Three Tenors, Jose Carreras.

Pavarotti had agreed to accept the award six years ago but died before the ceremony. Another fellow member of the Three Tenors, Placido Domingo, also recorded a video tribute to the star.

Zimmer, famed for his scores to the Pirates Of The Caribbean films and Inception, for which he enlisted former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, collected his outstanding contribution prize from Sir Michael Caine. The German composer also played a medley of his work on piano, accompanied by the London Chamber Orchestra.

The event, hosted by Myleene Klass, saw violinist Nicola Benedetti take the female artist of the year prize for a second year running, on the strength of album The Silver Violin. Composer and pianist Daniel Barenboim took his first Classic Brit, collecting the male artist prize.

Pianist Lang Lang – named best international artist – was among the performers at the ceremony, duetting for the first time with Benedetti on Sabre Dance.

Also on the bill was choirboy Jack Topping, whose debut at the Albert Hall a week earlier was cancelled due to a fire alert saw the building being evacuated and his Classic FM Live show being axed.