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Mantovani's Music Began and Ended with Romantic Melodies

Thomas E. DeJulio | Bronxville, NY USA | 10/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This latest Vocalion release is filled with bittersweet melodies of a bygone era, such as Ray Noble's, "The Very Thought of You", Jerome Kern's "Dearly Beloved", and Rogers and Hart's "Isn't It Romantic". Ironically, these old tunes were recorded at the end of Mantovani's own phenomenal recording career in late 1974 when the maestro, in failing health, labored over choosing the music that best suited his uniquely creative string-laden sound. Thus, he chose to offer musical tributes to two then recently deceased legends, Maurice Chevalier and Noel Coward for whom he served decades earlier as musical director. Added to the original LP recording was a bonus of Mantovani's own compositions, including his own romantic melodies like "Cara Mia", "Midnight Waltz" and "Serenata D'Amore" which he typically composed under pseudonyms. (You really have to wonder if 1960's rock fans would have catipulted Jay Black and the Americans to stardom if they knew he was singing a Mantovani melody.) It is quite fitting, therefore, that Vocalion re-issued these particular LPs on CD in this, the centenary year of Mantovani's birth and the 25th anniversary year of his death. Perhaps sensing his own demise was near when "Romantic Hits" was being recorded, Mantovani gifted his fans with a hauntingly beautiful cascade of strings in the opening track "Together", and bid us farewell with an overdrive of musical emotion in his arrangement of Sir Noel's "I'll See You Again." This fine CD set serves as a wonderful tribute to the grand master of light orchestral music himself, one whose legendary recording career and music happily lives on and presents cause for particular celebration and gratitude in the year 2005."