Mantovani

The Very Best Of Mantovani – The Mantovani Orchestra coducted by Annunzio Paolo Mantovani
Classical | 2 CD | EAC Rip | 686 MB | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Full scans | RS links
Publisher: Decca

Conductor, composer, violinist, and pianist Mantovani was one of the most popular and prolific easy listening artists of all time. His trademark "cascading strings" (or "tumbling strings") effect gave him an instantly recognizable sound, and his heavy reliance on the string section in general helped map out the blueprint for much of the light orchestral music that followed in his wake. His repertoire did feature original compositions, but was built chiefly on lush adaptations of familiar melodies: TV and movie themes, show tunes, pop hits (chiefly of the MOR variety), classical material, and the like. Starting his career in the '20s, Mantovani was very much a product of the recording age: he focused almost entirely on recording, instead of live performance; he was one of the first artists to utilize the LP as a primary medium for his releases (as opposed to singles); he was one of the first popular artists to use stereo recording technology, and likely the first to sell over a million records in the stereo format. Fascinated by the studio recording process, he experimented restlessly with miking methods and other technical nuances over the course of an astoundingly large discography – more than 50 albums from the early '50s until his death in 1980 (not counting his numerous 78 rpm records, dating back to the late '20s).

Compilation album released in Europe dedicated to the great Italian composer, arranger and conductor Mantovani, whose orchestra offers a repertoire of 17 pieces of music arranged and orchestrated all in his usual style. The display of these great themes makes a journey both works of classical authors (Mozart, Pachelbel and Puccini) and contemporary authors (Stevie Wonder, Cole Porter or Paul McCartney).

Conductor, composer, violinist, and pianist Mantovani was one of the most popular and prolific easy listening artists of all time. His trademark "cascading strings" (or "tumbling strings") effect gave him an instantly recognizable sound, and his heavy reliance on the string section in general helped map out the blueprint for much of the light orchestral music that followed in his wake. His repertoire did feature original compositions, but was built chiefly on lush adaptations of familiar melodies: TV and movie themes, show tunes, pop hits (chiefly of the MOR variety), classical material, and the like. Starting his career in the '20s, Mantovani was very much a product of the recording age: he focused almost entirely on recording, instead of live performance…

This two-fer from Dutton Vocalion features a pair of out of print LPs by easy listening artist Mantovani, Concert Spectacular and American Scene, originally issued in 1959 and 1960. These 24 remastered tracks find the conductor/musician/arranger interpreting such traditional material as "I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair," "Camptown Races," "Londonderry Air," and "Turkey in the Straw." This is an enjoyable reissue chosen from Mantovani's numerous London albums.