Mantovani

• Name — Mantovani • Birth Name — Annunzio Paolo Mantovani • Alias — Tulio Trapani • Born — 15 November 1905 • Birthplace — Venice, Veneto, Italy • Died — 30 March 1980 • Place of death — Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England • Genre — Light music • Occupation — * Conductor • composer • Years Active — 1939–1980 • Associated Acts — David Whitfield

Mantovani was born on 15 November 1905 in Venice, Italy, into a musical family. His father, Benedetto Paolo "Bismarck" Mantovani, was a violinist and served as the concertmaster of La Scala opera house's orchestra in Milan, under the baton of Arturo Toscanini. The family moved to England in 1912, where young Annunzio studied at Trinity College of Music in London. After graduation, he formed his own orchestra, which played in and around Birmingham. Mantovani married Winifred Moss (1909–1977) in 1934, having two children: Kenneth (born 12 July 1935) and Paula Irene (born 11 April 1939). By the time World War II broke out, his orchestra was one of the most popular British dance bands, both on BBC radio broadcasts and in live performances. Mantovani was also musical director for a large number of musicals and other plays, including Noël Coward's Pacific 1860 (1946) and Vivian Ellis's musical setting of J. B. Fagan's And So to Bed (1951). After the war, Mantovani concentrated on recording and eventually gave up live performance altogether. He worked with arranger and composer Ronald "Ronnie" Binge, who developed the "cascading strings" effect (also known as the "Mantovani sound"). Mantovani's records were regularly used for demonstration purposes in stores selling hi-fi stereo equipment, as they were produced and arranged for stereo reproduction. He became the first person to sell a million stereophonic records. In 1952, Binge ceased to arrange for Mantovani but the distinctive sound of the orchestra remained. Mantovani recorded for Decca and London Records, the United States arm of the Decca Record Company, exclusively. He recorded in excess of 50 albums on that label, many of which were Top 40 hits. Mantovani's single tracks included "The Song from Moulin Rouge", which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in 1953, the first instrumental track ever to do so; "Cara Mia" (with him and his orchestra backing David Whitfield) in 1954; "Around the World" in 1957; and "Main Theme from Exodus (Ari's Theme)" in 1960. In the United States, between 1955 and 1972, Mantovani released more than 40 albums, with 27 reaching the Top 40, and 11 in the Top Ten. His biggest success came with the album Film Encores, which reached number one in 1957. Similarly, Mantovani Plays Music From 'Exodus' and Other Great Themes made it to the Top Ten in 1961, with over a million albums sold. Mantovani starred in his own syndicated television series, Mantovani, which was produced in England and aired in the United States in 1959, and 39 episodes were filmed. Mantovani made his last recordings in the mid-1970s. Mantovani died at a care home in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on 30 March 1980; he was 74 years old.

Much of his catalogue has reappeared on CD. There are also many compilations. A large number of CDs are available containing unauthorized recordings, billed as Mantovani or Mantovani Orchestra; for example, the CD titled "The Mantovani Orchestra" released in 1997 contained a track from the 1980s Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Cats", which would have required posthumous conducting on the part of Mantovani. There have also been CDs released under the Mantovani name of recordings made by others while Mantovani was still alive. Following Mantovani's death in 1980, the Mantovani Estate continues to authorize numerous concerts worldwide and recordings using original and newly commissioned arrangements.

• Waltzing with Mantovani (1951) • An Album of Favourite Waltzes (1952) • The Music of Victor Herbert (1953) • Plays Tangos (1953) • Christmas Carols (1953) • Song Hits from Theatreland (1955) • Film Encores (1957) • Gems Forever (1958) • Strauss Waltzes (re-recording, 1958) • Continental Encores (1959) • Film Encores, Vol. 2 (1959) • American Scene (1959) • All-American Showcase (1959) • Songs to Remember)1960) • Mantovani Plays Music from Exodus and Other Great Themes (1960) • Italia Mia (1961) • American Waltzes (1962) • Latin Rendezvous (1963)

• Sing as You Swing (1937) • French Without Tears (1940) • Guitars of Love (1954) • A Heart Full of Music (1955)

He also worked under the names Tulio Trapani, Michael Trevor and Paul Remy. The authorities additionally record the headings Tulio Trapani, Michael Trevor, Paul Remy and Paul Lambrecht. His recorded language was Italian.

Born 1905-11-15, died 1980-03-30, as recorded by Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (GND). Place of death recorded as Royal Tunbridge Wells (Region), as recorded by Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (GND).