Search - Henry Mancini, Erich Kunzel, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra :: Mancini's Hits

Great Mancini overview

Anton Karidian | Tennessee | 03/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I agree with my lone review partner here that MANCINI'S GREATEST HITS is a fine overview of Henry Mancini's career. It gives us a sense of the wide variety of composing that he was capable of, from the romantic melodies of "Moon River" and "Dear Heart" to the jazz of "Peter Gunn" and "The Pink Panther" to the Broadway-inspired music of "Victor/Victoria." However, not represented are darker, ominous pieces that he was also very adept at composing. Although Henry Mancini was primarily a film composer, included too are several concert pieces that were not connected to films, including "Symphonic Soul," "March With Mancini," and "Strings On Fire," all of which are very enjoyable and also are impressive examples of his abilities as an orchestrator. I believe that a few pieces, such as those just mentioned, were included for their quality and variety, and were not really "hits" despite the title of the CD. The music is performed by the impressive Cincinnati Pops orchestra, conducted by Erich Kunzel and with vocals by the Henry Mancini Chorus. Even though Henry Mancini is pictured on the cover, along with Erich Kunzel and the Pink Panther, it's not clear whether he participated in the recording or not.



Perhaps the greatest virtue of this recording is the fact that it's a modern digital recording on the fine Telarc label. Many of Mancini's original soundtracks are from the 1950s and 1960s, and so do not have the sound quality of this CD. Thus, from the standpoints of both the music and the great sound quality, this disc is clearly a winner!"

Classic film tunes from the greatest composer of film tunes

Steven H. Hulme | Boise, ID USA | 02/21/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What?!! Nobody has reviewed this, in the history of Amazon?



Henry Mancini had a gift for melody that composers of any genre would be totally envious of. He was born in 1924, and by the time he was 28, he was in Hollywood, putting his genius to the page. His movie themes and soundtracks made great movies immortal, and mediocre movies memorable. (Obviously it's a subjective matter, but this music fan considers even such greats as John Williams and John Barry to be followers of leader Mancini.)



From the whimsy of "The Pink Panther" and "Baby Elephant Walk," to the intensity of "Peter Gunn," to the haunting beauty of "Moon River" or a personal favorite, the "Hatari" theme music... Mancini could truly set the mood.



Take Mancini's music and ask Erich Kunzel and the Cincinatti Pops Orchestra to put it to Telarc wax. How can you go wrong? You can't! This recording is essentially all orchestral, with occasional choral interludes, in "Dear Heart," "Charade," etc.



Close your eyes, sit back, and enjoy THIS journey!"