Paolo Mantovani
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Sumario
Síntesis biográfica
Infancia y juventud
Nació en Venecia, Italia el 15 de noviembre de 1905, en el seno de una familia musical. En 1912 la familia se muda a Inglaterra donde el joven Mantovani estudió en la Universidad de Música de Londres. Aunque su carrera le ocupaba mucho tiempo siempre buscaba un momento para escribir sus deleitables melodías, las que fueron grabadas por algunas casa de discos entre ellas Sterno, Columbia and Decca/London.
Primeros pasos
Aunque era reconocido como un dotado violinista Mantovani preferia componer al piano. Entre sus primeras composiciones se cuentan temas como "Impromptu Serenade" and "Venetian Boatman's Song". Después de su graduación formó su propia orquesta siendo una de las más populares en Inglaterra, por lo cual realizan presentaciones de radio en vivo en la cadena radial BBC.
Fama
El tema más vendido de Mantovani fue “Cara mia” en el que su orquesta y un coro de mujeres acompañaba a David Whitfield, el que fue un éxito en ambos lados del Atlántico. En 1975 London Records USA realizó un tributo al gran compositor con una recopilación de diez se sus mejores éxitos incluyendo una versión orquestal de “Cara mia” la cual fue interpretada por un gran número de artistas de todo el mundo entre ellos Gordon MacCrae, Mario del Monaco (with Mantovani), 101 Strings, Jay & The Americans, Gene Pitney, Al Caiola, Ray Anthony, Mario Lanza, Slim Whitman, José Carreras, Ron Goodwin and Richard Clayderman. Paolo Mantovani fue director de un gran número de obras musicales incluyendo algunas compuestas por Noel Coward. También colaboró con muchos compositores y artistas líricos entre ellos Bunny Lee, Marcel Stellman, Sonny Miller, Michael Carr, Paul Francis Webster, Harold Adamson y Norman Newell.
Aportes a la grabación estereofónica
Al terminar la guerra Mantovani abandona por un tiempo los conciertos de música en vivo y concentra toda su capacidad creativa en la composición y la grabación. Gracias a los nuevos avances científicos técnicos de la época se convierte en pionero de la grabación estereofónica, siendo el primer autor cuyas ventas llegaron a sobrepasar el millón de discos estereofónicos. El trabajo con el arreglista Ronnie Binge desarrollo en el compositor una técnica de sonido de cuerdas en cascada en el primer gran éxito "Charmaine" en 1951. En este mismo periodo Mantovani dedicó muchas horas dentro del estudio para perfeccionar otras técnicas de efectos de sonido.
Vida personal
Contrae matrimonio con Winifred Moss in 1934 y el 12 de julio del siguiente año nace July y cuatro años más tarde Paula
Muerte
Muere el 29 de marzo de 1980 en una casa de cuidados Tunbridge Wells en Kent, England, pero antes de morir dejó un estilo musical completamente nuevo y muy peculiar.
Colaboraciones
American Gypsy (Manilla) - Vocalion CDLK 412 (2002); first rec for Decca 195 issued until 2002 Amor Tzigano (Gipsy Love) (Renato Folia) - Decca F 8698 (1946) (MP3) available on Collector's Mantovani volume 1 from Vocalion and described on the Available CDs page.
Amore Mia (Mantovani, George Elrick) - rec by Tony Dalli (vcl) and the Roland Shaw Orchestra and chorus, Decca LK/SKL 4641 (1964)
Angel of The Sierras (Paolo Cortesi) - not recorded
Angelus (Mantovani, Sonny Miller) - Decca F 10627 with David Whitfield (vcl) and chorus (1955)
Arana De La Noche (Spider Of The Night) (Manilla) - Columbia FB 1393 (1935)
Autumn Rhapsody (Manilla) - played on 1971 UK concert tour; ?identical to Autumn Theme; not recorded
Autumn Theme (Manilla) - performed on UK and USA concert tours in 1967; also known as Theme For Orchestra and played under this title on 1969 US and 1974 UK concert tours; not recorded
Beyond The Stars (Trapani, Lee Lange = Bunny Lewis) - Decca F 10458 with David Whitfield (vcl) (1955)
Blue Fantasy (Trapani) - Decca F 10723 (1956) (MP3)
Blue Mantilla (Manilla) - Decca F 8867 (1946)
Brass Buttons (Lambrecht) - Decca F 10601 (1956) (MP3)
Broadway Panorama (Mantovani) - ?a later version of American Gypsy; rec for transcription porposes only(c1959)
Call Of The West (Manilla) - London 45-1761 (1957) with Tommy Reilly (harmonica); original title was Phantom Wheels (MP3) available on Collector's Mantovani volume 1 from Vocalion and described on the Available CDs page.
Campane A Sera (Bells Of The Evening) (F. Rinaldo = Ronald Binge, Mantovani) - London Mood Music W 7358 (1945)
Candlelight (Mike Trevor = Mantovani, Sonny Miller, J.G.O. Roberts) - Decca F 10678 (1956)(MP3)
La Canzone Italiana (Lambrecht) - not recorded
Cara Mia (Trapani, Lange = Bunny Lewis) - Decca F 10327 with David Whitfield and chorus (vcl)
Chiquita Mia (Remy, Felix King) - Decca F 8698 (1946)
Christmas Bells (Mantovani) - Decca LK/SKL 4557 (1963)
Cool Summer Evening (Mantovani) - Decca SKL 5126 (1975)
Cry My Heart (Trapani, Gene Martyn = Marcel Stellman) - Decca F 10978 with David Whitfield (vcl) (1958)
Cuor Ingrato (Ungrateful Heart) (Manilla) - Decca F 8682 (1946)
The Dance Of The Eighth Veil (Mantovani) - Decca F 8877 (1948)
Deserted Shore (Mantovani) - Decca LK/SKL 5033 (1970)
Disenchantment (Mantovani) - not recorded
Evening In Capri (S. Landau) - 1st version rec for Decca 1956 but unissued;
2nd version from 1957 first issued on Vocalion CDLK 4152 (2002); original title may have been Isola Bela
Gipsy Legend (Mantovani) - Decca F 10032 (1952)
Gone (Jo Debonnaire) - not recorded
Goodbye Venezia (?Claudio Bernadini) - not recorded
Gypsy Flower Girl (Mantovani) - Decca SKL 4950 (1970)
I Dream Of Rio (Paulo Cortesi) - not recorded
Imp On Broadway (Abner C. Rosen) - rec for transcription purposes only (1952)
In Waltz Time (Mantovani) - F 9013 (1945)
Italia Mia (My Italy) (Mantovani) - Decca LK 4396/SKL 4135 (1963)
It Was Love (Mantovani, Harold Adamson) - Decca F 11178 with Bryan Johnson (vcl) (1959)
Japanese Garden (Mantovani) - unissued Decca recording from 1969; ? also known as Japanese Lullaby
Last Summer (Mantovani) - Decca SKL 5092 (1968)
Lazy Gondolier (Manilla, Giorgio Forli, Johnny May = Bunny Lewis) - Decca F 10395 (1954) (MP3) Take a break, relax and imagine yourself laying back on a beautiful gondola in Venice while the gondolier and Mantovani entertain you. Mind you this is a big gondola since it must hold over forty musicians, a conductor, your significant other, the gondolier, and you. And since the gondola is only powered by a single gondolier (who is also very talented vocally), perhaps we should assume the beautiful melody was not written about him personally.
(The) Lonely Ballerina (Michael Carr, Mantovani) - Decca F 10395 (1954) (MP3) was released on the following albums: An Album Of Favourite Melodies volume 3 (LK 4122); Mantovani Musical Modes (LL 1259). If you close your eyes, you may actually picture the Lonely Ballerina dancing so beautifully to this beautiful composition by Mantovani. "Don Southwell reminded me that "Lonely Ballerina" was also in the stereo album Waltz Encores, PS 119. "Lazy Gondolier" is not in the Waltz Encores album. I wonder if we should introduce the Gondolier to the Lonely Ballerina?
Longing (Mantovani) - Decca F 10468 (1954); originally known as Fate
Manhattan Lullaby (Mantovani) - Decca LK/SKL 4561 (1963)
March In 3/4 (Mantovani) - unissued Decca recording from 1968
March Of The Robots (Mantovani) - rec for transcription purposes only (1952)
March of The Urchins (Mantovani) - not recorded
Marengo (Manilla) - rec for transcription purposes only (1952)
Mexican Starlight (Manilla) - Decca LF 1025 (1950)
(The) Midnight Waltz (Lambrecht) - Decca F 10210; the sheet music bore a sub-title, Valse Della Notte
October Dusk (Mantovani) - from 1951, not recorded
Only Yesterday (Roy Faye) - Decca F 11068 (1958)
The Orange Vendor (Strange Tango) (Rodilo) - Decca F 11216 (1960); written 1959
Our Last Affair (Mantovani) - Decca SKL 5187 (1974)
Phantom Wheels (Manilla) - unissued Decca recording from 1956 with Tommy Reilly (harmonica); 1st version of Call Of The West
Piccolo Bolero (Mantovani) - Decca LK/SKL 4712 (1965)
Pizza Pie (Mantovani) - unissued Decca recording from 1967
Pizzicato Strings (Mantovani) - performed on 1972 UK tour; not recorded
Poem To The Moon (Mantovani) - Decca K 1998 (1948)
Prima Donna (Paolo Cortesi) - rec for transcription purposes only (1952)
Red Petticoats (Lambrecht) - Decca F 10085 (1952)
Rickshaw (Mantovani) - Decca F 11500 (1962)
The Road To Ballingarry (Mantovani) - Decca F 10935 (1957) (MP3) available on Collector's Mantovani volume 1 from Vocalion and described on the Available CDs page.
Royal Blue Waltz (Lambrecht) - Decca F 10117 (1954)
September Nocturne (Mantovani) - Decca F 9282 (1948)
Serenata D'Amore (Mantovani) - Decca LK 4154 with Maryan Rawicz and Walter Landauer (twin pianos) (1956)
Song of Sorrento (Manilla, Giorgio Forli) - Decca F 10723 (1956) (MP3)
Such Lovely Things As These (Mantovani, Norman Newell) - unissued Decca recording from 1949 with Harold Smart (organ)
Tale Of Tahiti (Ken Moss) - not recorded
Tango D'Amore (Renato Folia) - Decca F 8867 (1948)
Tango De La Luna (Manilla) - Decca F 9981 (1945)
Tania (Mantovani) - Decca F 11264 (1960)
Tarantella (Mantovani) - Decca LK 4396/SKL 4135 (1961)
Theme For A Western (Mantovani) - Decca F 13470 (1972)
To My Love (Mantovani, Paul Webster) - Decca F 11001 (1958)
Toyshop Ballet (Mantovani) - Decca F 10797 (1956); original title Petit Ballet
Colin MacKenzie with the kind assistance of Mr. Kenneth Mantovani
Discografía
Popular music
Plays The Music Of Romberg, London LL 1031, 1954
Song Hits from Theatreland, London 125, 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 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, Decca 1967 SKL 4818
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
Annunzio Paolo Mantovani, London XPS 610, 1972
An Evening with Mantovani, London 902, 1973
The Greatest Gift Is Love, London 913, 1975
Música Clásica
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
Música religiosa
Christmas Carols, London 142, 1954
Songs of Praise, London 245
Christmas Greetings, London 338
Christmas Carols, London LL 913
Fuentes
http://www.hallowquest.com/compositions.htm
http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/1980.html
http://www.queenonline.com/features/brian-and-roger-interview-part-2/?page=2
http://gemm.com/q.cgi?rb=SPACEAGEPOP&wild=Mantovani
http://www.mantovani-orchestra.com/
