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Annunzio Paolo Mantovani ((:anˈnuntsi̯o ˈpaolo mantoˈvaːni)) (15 November 1905 – 29 March 1980),〔(Thedeadrockstarsclub.com ) – accessed March 2011〕 known as Mantovani, was an Anglo-Italian conductor, composer and light orchestra-styled entertainer with a cascading strings musical signature. The book ''British Hit Singles & Albums'' states that he was "Britain's most successful album act before the Beatles...the first act to sell over one million stereo albums and () six albums simultaneously in the US Top 30 in 1959". ==Biography== Mantovani was born in Venice, Italy, into a musical family. His father, Bismarck, 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. He married Winifred Moss in 1934, and they had 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.〔"Conductor Mantovani Dies after Long Illness" (1 April 1980) ''Pacific Stars and Stripes'', Tokyo, Japan〕 He 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).〔''Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians'' (2001) Schirmer, New York〕 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" effect (also known as the "Mantovani sound").〔"Sailing By – The Ronald Binge Story" (Mike Carey, 2000) ISBN 0-9530603-4-9〕 His 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.〔"Mantovani, Whose String Orchestras Sold Millions of Record Albums Dead at 74" (31 Mar 1980) ''The Boston Globe''〕 In 1952, Binge ceased to arrange for Mantovani but the distinctive sound of the orchestra remained. Mantovani recorded for Decca until the mid-1950s, and then for London Records. He recorded in excess of 50 albums on that label, many of which were Top 40 hits. His single tracks included "The Song from The Moulin Rouge", which reached Number One in the UK Singles Chart in 1953;〔 "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, he 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 attained Number One in 1957.〔 Similarly, ''Mantovani Plays Music From 'Exodus' and Other Great Themes'' made it to the Top Ten in 1961, with over one million albums sold.〔 In 1958, Mantovani and his family bought a holiday home in Bournemouth in Durley Chine Road, and 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. Mantovani starred in his own syndicated television series, ''Mantovani'', which was produced in England and which aired in the United States in 1959. Thirty-nine episodes were filmed.〔Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1964). ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows'' (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine. ISBN 0-345-31864-1〕 Mantovani made his last recordings in the mid-1970s.〔"Annunzio Mantovani World-famous conductor was bridge to classics" (31 Mar 1980) ''The Globe and Mail'', Toronto〕 He died at a care home in Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent.〔 His funeral was held at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium and Cemetery on 8 April 1980.〔(Find-a-Grave )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mantovani」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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