André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra.
Annunzio Paolo Mantovani was an Anglo-Italian conductor, composer and light orchestra-styled entertainer with a cascading strings musical signature.
Andre Kostelanetz was a Russian-born American popular orchestral music conductor and arranger who was one of the major exponents of popular orchestra music.
"It's April Again" is a popular song that first appeared in the 1952 film Moulin Rouge. It became a No. 1 hit in the UK Singles Chart when recorded by Mantovani. The music for the film was written by Georges Auric; the original French lyrics were by Jacques Larue, with the English words by William Engvick. The Auric-Engvick song was published in 1953.
"My Heart Cries for You" is a popular song, adapted by Carl Sigman and Percy Faith from an 18th-century French melody. The song has been recorded by many singers, the most successful of which was recorded by Guy Mitchell which reached No. 2 on the Billboard chart in 1951.
"Charmaine" is a popular song written by Ernö Rapée and Lew Pollack. The song was written in 1926 and published in 1927. However, Desmond Carrington on his BBC Radio 2 programme marked the song's writing as being in 1913.
"Theme from A Summer Place" is a song with lyrics by Mack Discant and music by Max Steiner, written for the 1959 film A Summer Place, which starred Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue. It was recorded for the film as an instrumental by Hugo Winterhalter. Originally known as the "Molly and Johnny Theme", this lush extended cue, as orchestrated by Murray Cutter, is not the main title theme of the film, but an oft-heard secondary love theme for the characters played by Dee and Donahue. The theme has become a canonical representation of the easy listening genre, and is considered by some to be the definitive easy listening track of all time.
"Waves of the Danube" is a waltz composed by Iosif Ivanovici in 1880, and is one of the most famous Romanian tunes in the world. The song has many variations throughout the piece, reminiscent of the music of Johann Strauss. Through the Viennese style variations, there is still a distinct Slavic style. In the United States, it is frequently referred to as "The Anniversary Song", a title given by Al Jolson when he and Saul Chaplin released an adaptation of the song in 1946.
Film Encores is an album by Mantovani and His Orchestra. It was released in 1957 by London. It debuted on Billboard magazine's pop album chart on May 27, 1957, peaked at the No. 1 spot, and remained on the chart for 113 weeks. It was an RIAA certified gold album. AllMusic later gave the album a rating of three stars.
Gems Forever is an album by Mantovani and His Orchestra. It was released in 1958 by London. It debuted on Billboard magazine's pop album chart on May 19, 1958, peaked at the No. 5 spot, and remained on the chart for 56 weeks. It was an RIAA certified gold album. AllMusic later gave the album a rating of four-and-a-half stars.
Mantovani Plays Music from Exodus and Other Great Themes is an album by Mantovani and His Orchestra. It was released in 1960 by London. It debuted on Billboard magazine's pop album chart on December 5, 1960, held the No. 2 spot for five weeks, and remained on the chart for 44 weeks. It was an RIAA certified gold album. AllMusic later gave the album a rating of four-and-a-half stars.
Mantovani Stereo Showcase is an album by Mantovani and His Orchestra. It was released in 1959 by London. It debuted on Billboard magazine's pop album chart on June 1, 1959, peaked at the No. 6 spot, and remained on the chart for 11 weeks. AllMusic later gave the album a rating of three stars.
Song Hits from Theatreland is an album by Mantovani and His Orchestra. It was released in 1955 by Decca. It debuted on Billboard magazine's pop album chart on July 9, 1955, peaked at the No. 8 spot, and remained on the chart for eight weeks. It was an RIAA certified gold album .< AllMusic later gave the album a rating of three stars.
Christmas Carols is an album of Christmas music by Mantovani and His Orchestra. It was originally released in 1953 by London Records. It was recorded at Kingsway Hall in London with Charles Smart playing Kingsway Hall's organ. The album was re-recorded in stereo in 1958. The album includes an original Mantovani composition, "Midnight Waltz".
American Scene is an album of music by American songwriters performed by the Anglo-Italian conductor, Mantovani and His Orchestra. Side 1 consists entirely of music composed by Stephen Foster. It was released in 1959 by Decca Records. It debuted on Billboard magazine's pop album chart on March 28, 1960, peaked at the No. 11 spot, and remained on the chart for 30 weeks. AllMusic later gave it a rating of three stars.
All-American Showcase is a double album of music by four American composers performed by the Anglo-Italian conductor Mantovani and His Orchestra. It was released in 1959 by London Recordings. Each of the four sides is dedicated to one of four composers: Sigmund Romberg, Victor Herbert, Irving Berlin, and Rudolf Friml. It debuted on Billboard magazine's pop album chart on January 4, 1960, peaked at the No. 8 spot, and remained on the chart for 18 weeks. AllMusic later gave it a rating of three stars.
American Waltzes is an album by Mantovani and His Orchestra. It was released in 1962 by London Recordings. It debuted on Billboard magazine's pop album chart on June 16, 1962, peaked at the No. 8 spot, and remained on the chart for 19 weeks. AllMusic later gave the album a rating of three stars.
Film Encores Vol. 2 is an album by Mantovani and His Orchestra. It was released in 1959 by London.
Waltzing with Mantovani is an album by Mantovani and His Orchestra. It was released in June 1951 by London Recordings.
An Album of Favourite Waltzes, also known as A Collection of Favorite Waltzes, is an album by Mantovani and His Orchestra. It was released in April 1952 by London Records in the United States and in October 1952 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom.
