Mantovani facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mantovani
Mantovani in 1970
Background information
Birth name	Annunzio Paolo Mantovani
Also known as	Tulio Trapani
Born	(1905-11-15)15 November 1905 Venice, Veneto, Italy
Died	29 March 1980(1980-03-29) (aged 74) Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England
Genres	Light music
Occupation(s)	Conductor Composer
Years active	1939–1980
Associated acts	David Whitfield

Annunzio Paolo Mantovani (born November 15, 1905 – died March 29, 1980) was a famous Anglo-Italian conductor and composer. Most people knew him simply as Mantovani. He was known for his unique "cascading strings" sound. This made his orchestra's music flow smoothly and beautifully.

The book British Hit Singles & Albums says he was "Britain's most successful album act before the Beatles." He was the first artist to sell over one million stereo albums. In 1959, he even had six albums in the US Top 30 at the same time!

About Mantovani's Life

Mantovani was born in Venice, Italy, into a family of musicians. His father, Bismarck, was a top violinist (concertmaster) for the La Scala opera house orchestra in Milan. He played under the famous conductor Arturo Toscanini.

Early Life and Career

In 1912, Mantovani's family moved to England. Annunzio studied music at Trinity College of Music in London. After finishing school, he started his own orchestra. They played in and around Birmingham. In 1934, he married Winifred Moss. They had two children, Kenneth and Paula.

By the time World War II started, his orchestra was very popular. They played on BBC radio and performed live. He also directed music for many plays and musicals. These included Pacific 1860 by Noël Coward (1946).

Recording Success and the "Mantovani Sound"

After the war, Mantovani focused on making records. He stopped performing live. He worked with a talented arranger named Ronald Binge. Binge helped create the special "cascading strings" effect. This sound became known as the "Mantovani sound."

His records were often used to show off new stereo sound systems. This is because they were made to sound great in stereo. Mantovani was the first person to sell a million stereo records. Ronald Binge stopped working with him in 1952. But the orchestra kept its unique sound.

Mantovani recorded only for Decca Records and its US branch, London Records. He made over 50 albums for them. Many of these albums became Top 40 hits. Some of his hit songs included "The Song from Moulin Rouge" (Number One in the UK in 1953). He also had hits with "Cara Mia" (backing David Whitfield) and "Around the World".

In the United States, he released over 40 albums between 1955 and 1972. Twenty-seven of them reached the "Top 40." Eleven even made it into the "Top Ten." His most successful album was Film Encores, which hit Number One in 1957. Another big hit was Mantovani Plays Music From 'Exodus' and Other Great Themes. It sold over one million copies in 1961.

Television and Later Years

Mantovani also had his own TV show called Mantovani. It was made in England and shown in the United States in 1959. They filmed 39 episodes. He made his last recordings in the mid-1970s.

Mantovani passed away at a care home in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. His funeral was held on April 8, 1980.

Mantovani's Music Style

The "cascading strings" technique was Mantovani's special musical style. Ronald Binge developed this sound. He wanted to make the music sound like it was echoing in big places, like cathedrals. He did this just by arranging the music cleverly.

Author Joseph Lanza said Mantovani's string arrangements were the most "rich and beautiful" in the early 1950s. He noted that Mantovani used new studio technology to create "sound tapestries with countless strings." He also said the "hum of Mantovani's echoed violins" was like an early version of synthesizer sounds. His style stayed popular even as music changed. Variety magazine called him "the biggest musical phenomenon of the twentieth century."

Influence on Other Musicians

From 1961 to 1971, David McCallum Sr was the leader of Mantovani's orchestra. At that time, David McCallum Sr.'s son, David McCallum, was very famous. Mantovani would joke to audiences, "We can afford the father but not the son!"

Mantovani is even mentioned in The Kinks song "Prince of the Punks." He also had a big influence on Brian May, the guitarist from the band Queen.

Not all musicians always respected Mantovani's style. When George Martin suggested adding strings to Paul McCartney's song "Yesterday", McCartney first said he didn't want it to sound like Mantovani. So, Martin used a more classical sound with a string quartet.

Music Released After His Death

Many of Mantovani's recordings have been released again on CD. There are also many collections of his music. Some CDs are sold as "Mantovani Orchestra" but contain recordings made by other groups. For example, a 1997 CD had a song from the 1980s musical "Cats". Mantovani could not have conducted this song since he passed away in 1980.

Even after Mantovani's death in 1980, his family (the Mantovani Estate) still allows concerts and new recordings. These use his original music arrangements.

Discography

Albums

• A Mantovani Program, London ffrr LPB-127, 1949
• Musical Moments, London ffrr LPB-218, 1950
• Waltzing with Mantovani, London ffrr LPB-381, 1951
• Strauss Waltzes, London ffrr LL 685, 1953, later re-recorded in stereo as London 118, 1958
• Plays The Music of Victor Herbert, London ffrr LL 746, 1953
• An Album of Favorite Melodies, reissued as An Enchanted Evening with Mantovani, London ffrr LL 766, 1953
• An Album of Romantic Melodies, London ffrr LL 979, 1954
• Plays The Music of Sigmund Romberg, London ffrr LL 1031, 1954
• Song Hits from Theatreland, London ffrr LL 1219, 1955, later re-recorded in stereo as London 125, 1959
• Plays The Music of Rudolf Friml, London ffrr LL 1150, 1955
• Plays The Immortal Classics, London LL 877, 1956
• Music from the Films, London 112
• Waltz Encores, London 119
• Film Encores, London 124, 1957
• Gems Forever, London 106, 1958
• Continental Encores, London 147, 1959.
• Film Encores, Vol. 2, London 164, 1959
• The Music of Victor Herbert and Sigmund Romberg, London 165, 1960
• The Music of Irving Berlin and Rudolf Friml, London 166, 1956
• The Breeze, London, Abbey road, 1961
• American Scene, London 182
• Songs to Remember, London 193, 1960
• Great Theme Music (Music from "Exodus"), London 224, 1961
• Theme from "Carnival", London 3250, 1961
• Themes from Broadway, London 242
• American Waltzes, London 248
• Moon River, London 249, 1962
• Selections from "Stop the World – I Want to Get Off" and "Oliver", London 270
• Latin Rendezvous, London 295
• Manhattan, London 328, 1963
• Folk Songs Around the World, London 360
• The Incomparable Mantovani, London 392
• The Mantovani Sound, London 419, 1965
• Mantovani Olé, London 422
• Mantovani Magic, London 448, 1966
• Mantovani's Golden Hits, London 483, 1967
• Mr. Music, London 474, 1966
• Mantovani/Hollywood, London 516
• The Mantovani Touch, London 526, 1968
• Mantovani/Tango, London 532
• Mantovani ... Memories, London 542
• The Mantovani Scene, London 548, 1969

• The World of Mantovani, London 565, 1969
• Mantovani Today, London 572, 1970
• From Monty with Love, London 585–586, 1971
• To Lovers Everywhere, London PS 598, 1971
• Annunzio Paolo Mantovani, London XPS 610, 1972
• An Evening with Mantovani, London 902, 1973
• The Greatest Gift Is Love, London 913, 1975
• Mantovani's Hit Parade , London 1966

Light Classical Music

• Strauss Waltzes, London LL 685, 1953
• Strauss Waltzes, London 118 1958
• Concert Encores, London 133
• Operetta Memories, London 202
• Italia Mia, London 232, 1961
• Classical Encores, London 269
• The World's Great Love Songs, London 280
• Mantovani in Concert, London 578

Christmas and Religious Music

• Christmas Carols, London LL913, 1954
• Songs of Praise, London 245
• Christmas Greetings, London 338
• Christmas Carols, London PS142
• Merry Christmas to All of You, Decca 66445009 (1963)

Singles

Selected Filmography

• Sing as You Swing (1937)
• Guitars of Love (1954)

See also

In Spanish: Annunzio Paolo Mantovani para niños