Movies and Mantovani Make Magnificent Musical Memories.
Thomas E. DeJulio | Bronxville, NY USA | 04/18/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In this year in which fans celebrate Mantovani's 100th birthday, another excellent British compilation of some of the great maestro's original recordings has been released. The tracks on this CD come predominantly from Mantovani's 1957 bestselling LP, Film Encores, his 1959 Film Encores Volume 2, and his 1967 LP entitled "Mantovani/Hollywood." Up until now, the six tracks from the Hollywood LP have been the most difficult to find on CD in locations other than Japan, and it includes Monty's exciting arrangements of the themes from Zorba the Greek, the Magnficent Seven, Lawrence of Arabia, and You Only Live Twice. While these alone are worth the CD price, the remaining selections comprise the very best of Mantovani's film music library, including Unchained Melody (now better known as the theme from the movie "Ghost"), April Love, the theme from The Apartment, and Charlie Chaplin's Limelight. Attentive Mantovani fans will hear the inclusion of a less heard variation of the "golden hit" Moon River in which the maestro replaced the trumpet solo with the soprano sax in a later recording of this forever popular number. Sooner or later, and we hope sooner, everything recorded by the original orchestra led by the incomparable Mantovani will appear on CD. That is a just and fitting tribute to the most popular light orchestra leader in the 20th Century whose music will live on and will be heard to delight fans all over the world in the 21st."
Endearing Collection of Montovani Film Music
hille2000 | USA | 09/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very good collection of Montovani film music. These recording are so soothing and pleasing to the ear. Most impressive are Montovani's versions of YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN and LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE is incredibly beautiful.
"