Biografia
Annunzio Paolo Mantovani was born on November 15, 1905, in Venice, Italy, to a violinist who performed at La Scala under maestro Arturo Toscanini. Raised in a musical family, Mantovani learned piano and music theory during his youth. In 1912, when his father became conductor of the orchestra at London's Covent Garden theater, Mantovani moved with his family to England, which became his permanent home.
Following his father's example, Mantovani began playing violin at 14, though he continued to use the piano for composing. He made his professional violin debut at 16. Touring with an orchestra, he quickly developed as a performer and became a featured soloist. In 1925, he was appointed conductor of the Hotel Metropole Orchestra and made his first recordings with them in 1928.
Mantovani gained recognition as a violin virtuoso through a series of recitals in 1930 and 1931. During this period, he formed the Tipica Orchestra, which broadcasted from London's Monseigneur restaurant. The orchestra toured England and recorded for several labels from 1932 to 1936, eventually signing with Columbia. Their hits in the U.S., including "Red Sails in the Sunset" and "Serenade to the Night," led Columbia to change the billing to "Mantovani & His Orchestra." In 1940, Mantovani moved to Decca, where he remained for 33 years.
In the early 1940s, Mantovani & His Orchestra enjoyed great popularity in England. During World War II, Mantovani served as musical director for various theatrical productions. After the war, he focused on recording rather than live performances. Alongside arranger Ronald Binge, a former accordion player with the Tipica Orchestra, Mantovani developed his signature "cascading strings" sound, a lush string arrangement that became a hallmark of easy listening music. This effect first appeared on the 1951 single "Charmaine," which sold over one million copies and reintroduced Mantovani to the U.S. market.
Mantovani produced numerous hit singles in the early to mid-1950s, including the 1953 #1 hit "Song from Moulin Rouge." He co-wrote, arranged, and backed David Whitfield’s 1954 British #1 hit "Cara Mia," which also reached the U.S. Top Ten. Beginning in 1954, Mantovani recorded long-playing albums for Decca and London Records. Although rock 'n' roll limited his singles chart success, his albums sold millions, especially in the U.S.
From 1955 to 1972, more than 40 Mantovani albums appeared on the U.S. pop charts, with 27 reaching the Top 40 and 11 entering the Top Ten. His biggest successes were movie-themed albums, including "Film Encores," which reached #1 in 1957, and "Mantovani Plays Music From 'Exodus' and Other Great Themes," a #2 hit in 1961. The "Exodus" album sold over one million copies and stayed on the charts for nearly a year.
Throughout the 1960s, Mantovani's easy listening style increasingly diverged from mainstream trends and was viewed as old-fashioned, reminiscent of the pre-rock 1950s era. His albums charted progressively lower, ceasing to chart after 1972’s self-titled "Annunzio Paolo Mantovani." When Decca was absorbed into MCA in 1973, his recording career ended. By that time, he had recorded over 50 albums featuring his distinctive light orchestral style.
Annunzio Paolo Mantovani passed away on March 30, 1980, at his country home in Tunbridge Wells, England, at the age of 74.
