He was also musical director for a large number of musicals and other plays, including ones by Noel Coward. After the war, he concentrated on recording, and eventually gave up live performance altogether. He worked with arranger and composer Ronnie Binge, who developed the "cascading strings" sound (also known as the "Mantovani sound").[citation needed] His records were regulars in stores selling hi-fi stereo equipment, as they were produced and arranged for stereo reproduction. In 1952 Binge ceased to arrange for Mantovani, but his distinctive sound remained.
He recorded for Decca until the mid-1950s, and then London Records. He recorded over 50 albums on that label, many of which were top-40 hits. These included Song from Moulin Rouge and Cara Mia, which reached No. 1 in Britain in 1953 and 1954, respectively. The latter was also Mantovani's first U.S. Top Ten hit.
In the United States, between 1955 and 1972, he released over 40 albums with 27 reaching the Top 40 and 11 the Top Ten. His biggest success was with the album Film Encores, which made it to No. 1 in 1957. Similarly, Mantovani Plays Music From 'Exodus' and Other Great Themes made it to No. 2 in 1961 and sold over one million albums.
In 1959, Mantovani starred in his own syndicated television series, Mantovani, which was produced in England and which aired in the United States. 39 episodes were filmed.[1]
Mantovani made his last recordings in 1975.[citation needed]
[edit] Music style and influences
The cascading strings technique developed by Binge became Mantovani's hallmark in such hits arranged by Binge as "Charmaine". Binge developed this technique to replicate the echo experienced in venues such as cathedrals by arrangement alone, in an echo-free surrounding.
Author Joseph Lanza describes Mantovani's string arrangements as the most "rich and mellifluous" of the emerging light music style during the early 1950s. He stated that Mantovani was a leader in the use of new studio technologies to "create sound tapestries with innumerable strings", and that "the sustained hum of Mantovani's reverberated violins produced a sonic vaporizer foreshadowing the synthesizer harmonics of space music."[2]
In 1958 Mantovani and his family bought a holiday home in Bournemouth in Durley Chine Road, then in 1961 acquired a new property in Burton Road (now part of Poole). He moved, finally, to a new home in Martello Road in Poole.
Since his death at a care home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1980, his music has enjoyed a minor revival,[citation needed] with much of his catalogue reappearing on CD and an orchestra bearing his name performing concert tours. The saleability of the Mantovani name is underscored by new recordings being made as the Mantovani Orchestra. Unfortunately[neutrality is disputed], a large number of CDs are also available of unauthorized recordings, billed as Mantovani or Mantovani Orchestra.[citation needed] There have also been CDs released under the Mantovani name of recordings made by others while Mantovani was still alive.[citation needed] Thus, consumers of this music are advised to familiarize themselves with the conductor's discography. Material with the London Records logo on it is apt to be genuine Mantovani, while other recordings are less likely to be actual Mantovani recordings.[citation needed]
The continued popularity of Mantovani's music is evident by the number of original albums which are being released, on labels such as Dutton-Vocalion, and by the many compilations available throughout the world. In 2008, as a result of successful, ongoing CD sales, amongst other contributing factors, the Mantovani Orchestra (performing from the original scores) was recreated for a tremendously successful historical tribute concert, sponsored by Bentley Motors, held at the Lighthouse, in Poole, England, on 27 January, conducted by Sam Newgarth, MBE. Much critical acclaim has led to the planning of a second concert, to take place in January 2009, at the same venue. There are four Mantovani websites in honour of the maestro, a written biography by Colin MacKenzie entitled Mantovani - A Lifetime In Music (ISBN 1-905226-19-5). For further information, please visit http://www.hallowquest.com/mantiindex.htm; http://members3.jcom.home.ne.jp/torumonty; http://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk (re. ticket sales for 31 January 2009). A ten CD set 'The Wonderful World of Mantovani' was released in November 2008 in Japan (a link to the website in Japan may be found by visiting www.hallowquest.com/mantiindex.htm), featuring many rare tracks which have never been released on CD before, in a superbly remastered format, and, following the success of the Mantovani Orchestra's 2008 concert, 'More MANTOVANI Magic' took place at Lighthouse in Poole, England, on 31 January 2009, again conducted by maestro Sam Newgarth MBE. The concert was sponsored by Poole Audi, and also with the generous support of Richard Cox.
The Song From "Moulin Rouge"
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I worry and wonder
Your lips may be near
but where is your heart?
It's always like this
I worry and wonder
You're close to me here
It's a sad thing to realize
that you've a heart that never melts
When we kiss, do you close your eyes
pretending that I'm someone else?
You must break the spell
this cloud that I'm under
So please won't you tell, darling
where is your heart?
The lyrics to Mantovani's song "The Song from Moulin Rouge" convey a sense of longing, doubt, and self-doubt on the part of the singer. The singer is aware of the physical closeness between them and their lover, but they are unsure of their lover's emotional investment in the relationship. The singer worries that their lover's heart may be elsewhere, despite the physical intimacy they share.
The singer reflects on the sad realization that their lover's heart "never melts," suggesting that their lover may not be capable of truly loving them. They question whether their lover is even present in the moment, asking if they "pretend that [the singer is] someone else" when they kiss. The singer is trapped in a "cloud" of uncertainty and asks their lover to break the spell by revealing where their heart truly lies.
Line by Line Meaning
When ever we kiss
Every time we kiss
I worry and wonder
I become anxious and uncertain
Your lips may be near
Your lips are physically close to mine
but where is your heart?
But where are your emotions? Are you really present in this moment?
It's always like this
This is a recurring pattern
I worry and wonder
I become anxious and uncertain
You're close to me here
You're physically near to me in this moment
but where is your heart?
But where are your emotions? Are you really present in this moment?
It's a sad thing to realize
It's a difficult truth to accept
that you've a heart that never melts
That your emotions are inaccessible, that you don't allow yourself to feel vulnerable
When we kiss, do you close your eyes
Do you shut yourself off even in intimate moments?
pretending that I'm someone else?
Are you avoiding emotional connection by imagining someone else?
You must break the spell
You need to overcome this emotional barrier
this cloud that I'm under
This cloud of uncertainty and anxiety that I'm experiencing
So please won't you tell, darling
So please communicate with me honestly and openly, my love
where is your heart?
Where are your emotions? Will you let me in?
Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Georges Auric, William Engvick, Jacques Larue
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnmcgregor3530
This is one of the very best orchestral arrangements of this glorious melody
@poncianovargas5391
FLASHBACK TO MY MEMORIES!
@warrenetchells9441
Beautiful piece of music
@muffs55mercury61
As much as I'm a rock and roll person I like good music like this too.
@giuseppeabbate5816
Quanti anni ha Mantovani?
@linandy3307
best version of this music !!!!!
God bless everybody!
@ricardogastmann9688
God bless you too... because your sensibility 🤗🇧🇷
@BobFarnell
It is really Nice to see there are still some music lovers out there, Thank you for podting this
@caspercasper896
the top 20 of saturday 30 may 1953
@musicsuperrelaxingviajar
I love the wonderful music from all ages, but I was missing Mr. Mantovani. It's just great music!!!