Mantovani Orchestra
Venice-born Annunzio Paolo Mantovani became known not only for arrangements of popular tunes and for his own compositions, but for the unique sonic character of "His Orchestra," a sound often likened to the strains of "cascading strings." Detractors called the style elevator music, but Mantovani would become one of the best-known creators and conductors of light orchestral music of his time.
Mantovani began conducting in 1925, his first position being conductor of the Hotel Metropole Orchestra in Leeds, an ensemble with whom he made several recordings in 1928. Among the more successful works he composed and recorded that year were Impromptu Serenade and Venetian Boatmen's Song.
Concurrently he pursued a career as a concert violinist in England, and had achieved considerable success in that endeavor. In 1931 he made the difficult decision to abandon his soloist's career in favor of conducting. He then founded his first orchestra, the Tipica Orchestra. With this group he performed regularly in radio broadcasts and in 1932 began making recordings. Several were hits in England and the U.S., including the 1936 Serenade to the Night.
In 1937, Columbia Records billed the performers as Mantovani and His Orchestra, and the name has been used ever since. Mantovani and his ensemble grew in popularity in the 1940s, not least because the conductor dabbled in many successful theater productions on the side. In 1951, Mantovani, with the aid of arranger and former accordionist in his orchestra Ronald Binge, fashioned the aforementioned "cascading strings" sound, introducing it with one of Mantovani's most popular hits, Charmaine.
In 1954 Mantovani recorded his greatest hit, Cara Mia, wherein he employed a female choir. A string of big sellers followed: Beyond the Stars (1955), Toy Shop Ballet (1956), and It Was Love (1959). A good many of his recorded efforts -- at least 74 -- were crafted by him, though he would often write his works under a pseudonym, such as Paul Remy or Paul Lambrecht. Sometimes he would do a second version of a successful piece: his 1966 rendition of Cara Mia featured Mantovani at the piano, accompanying the orchestra, a performance released by Decca in 1975. After 1973, Mantovani's popularity declined, but he remained active for several years in composition. He died on March 30, 1980. His recordings continued to be reissued after his death, especially with a later resurgence of interest in his work.
© TiVo
Similar artists
-
Carnival and Other Broadway Hits
Musical Theatre - Released by Hot Rock Records on 30 Oct 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Latin by Mantovani
Pop - Released by Conga Groove on 14 May 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Somewhere In The Night
Classical - Released by Aldred on 15 Jun 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas Gala
Christmas Music - Released by DPR-TMC on 14 Aug 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
World Orchestra, Sand
Lounge - Released by Sotelysa Digital on 29 Oct 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Music World, Mantovani
Lounge - Released by Sotelysa Digital on 24 Sep 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kismet
Film Soundtracks - Released by Classic Music International on 4 Jan 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classical Christmas
Ambient/New Age - Released by Music Manager on 15 Jun 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Songs Of Praise (1961)
Pop - Released by JB Production on 8 Jan 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Movie Highlights Soundtracks, Vol. 10
Classical - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 7 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mantovani Magic, Vol. 2
Pop - Released by Leverage on 11 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Mantovani Magic, Vol. 3
Pop - Released by Leverage on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mantovani Magic, Vol. 1
Pop - Released by Leverage on 11 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Great Songs of Christmas (Rerecording)
World - Released by Marathon Media International on 29 Oct 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La Vie en Rose (Original Soundtrack Sabrina 1954)
Pop - Released by JB Production on 27 Aug 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sabrina (La vie en Rose) (Mantovani orchestra)
Pop - Released by JB Production CH on 19 Jul 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La vie en rose
Film Soundtracks - Released by JB Production on 8 Jan 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas Gala (Rerecorded)
Ambient/New Age - Released by Marathon Media International on 29 Oct 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Star Bright (Christmas Recordings Remastered) (Remastered)
Musical Theatre - Released by Forrest Hill on 3 Dec 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo