Mantovani Concert Spectacular [DVD]
It’s Here! The brand new DVD from Barrett Films UK; The Mantovani Concert Spectacular!
Filmed live at the Pavilion Theatre Bournemouth, this is the most amazing Mantovani Orchestra DVD yet.
Conductor Roderick Dunk conducts The Magic of the Mantovani Orchestra and features the most beautiful music including Charmaine, Cara Mia, Around the World and dozens more in this two set DVD.
There is also a special feature ‘Behind The Scenes 2010’ in which you are able to view the exciting build up to the concert and also watch interviews with the talent involved.
This limited edition DVD is not available in the shops.
Mantovani Concert Spectacular runs for an incredible 130 minutes and features
the complete live concert, Behind the scenes and Mantovani Photo Album.
This DVD is the PAL colour version
Format: 16:9 Wide
Dolby Digital Stereo
Mantovani Concert Spectacular [DVD]
Full Independent Concert Review:
“MANTOVANI CONCERT SPECTACULAR” AT THE PAVILION, BOURNEMOUTH
Another virtual full house, a sea of happy, expectant faces, a couple of hours of string magic: this, indeed, was the third Mantovani Orchestra (UK) concert organised by percussionist Paul Barrett, this time in an April setting instead of January. Bournemouth responded with a gloriously sunny day, which was a good omen for the evening concert.
There were other changes, too, from what had gone before. First, the new venue, the splendid Pavilion Theatre, in the heart of Bournemouth, still going strong after over 80 years (it was opened in March 1929). According to Hugh Ashley’s book “Bournemouth Pavilion A Celelebration 1929-2006″, Mantovani was due to make his debut there on 4 August 1939, but we all remember what happened on that day, and his appearance was cancelled. Although the acoustics in the Pavilion are perhaps not quite as good as those of the previous location, The Lighthouse Theatre in Poole, the atmosphere was warmer, more intimate, even. Occasionally, it was difficult to catch sight of one soloist or the other from the vantage point of the stalls, but you could easily follow what was being played by glancing at the razor-sharp pictures on the large screen to the rear of the stage.
A word or two about the screen and the exemplary camera work is appropriate. Mixing live musicians with film shots and stills, it provided magnificent support to the stage musicians. At one point the synchronisation of a black and white film of Monty conducting at Elstree in 1959, with “Holiday For Strings” being played on stage, was uncanny; it really looked as if the maestro himself was conducting the music! A masterly piece of innovation, so congratulations are in order to Craig and all those at Philip Stannard Associates for a remarkable achievement.
The second change we noticed was the introduction of brand new string, woodwind and guitar ensembles, made up of seasoned London sessioneers, complementing the excellent brass section retained from January 2009. Led by Cynthia Fleming from Texas, the string players recreated once again the famous “Mantovani Sound”, giving the best perfomance yet of something which is not easy to replicate. It was obvious that the musicians were enjoying themselves, perhaps playing a different type of music from that usually encountered.
Last but not least, we met a new conductor, the renowned Roderick Dunk of “Friday Night Is Music Night” fame. His curriculum vitae includes conducting the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra and so many others. Would this versatile, talented man shape up to the new challenge, we wondered. Having made a study of the British Light Music tradition, Dunk infused the proceedings with lively conducting, putting his body and soul (or so it seemed) on the line in each number. Indeed, he brought the orchestra onto a new level with his enthusiasm and body language, and proved to be a worthy successor to Sam Newgarth, MBE.
Cleverly, Dunk introduced a few bars of “Charmaine” into “The Count Of Luxembourg Waltz”, the perfect appetiser to a feast of musical delights. The first of four Latin numbers arranged by Cecil Milner, “El Relicario”, was also an appropriate choice, for it was in this very theatre in 1931 that Sir Dan Godfrey conducted one of Milner’s own compositions. We next encountered a delightful version of Cole Porter’s “Night And Day”, made even more interesting in a modern format, Mantovani himself never having recorded this wonderful tune in stereo. What was immediately noticeable was the positioning of the celli and basses – to the right of the conductor instead of behind the string ensemble. In their new positions they were heard to much greater effect.
“Jealousy” was moody and dramatic with “luftpauses” to heighten the tension, leader Fleming adding to the excitement with a vibrant solo. Next came Roland Shaw’s thrilling arrangement of “Delilah” then we enjoyed “Around The World” with Mike Lovatt’s magnificent trumpet solo. The musicians now took a breather to allow for a novel interlude. Paul Barratt was aware of the theatre’s Compton organ, one of the very few left in this country, and invited a guest organist, Michael Wooldridge of Worthing, to step up to the keyboards of the theate’s “glorious music maker,” installed for its opening in 1929. Wooldridge filled the arena with a glorious sound, playing a Blackpool Tower medley which included “I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside”, “Maybe It’s Because I’m A Londoner” and “12th Street Rag”. Entertaining us without any written music, he was keenly watched on the big screen (the organ was at the side of the stage) by Rod Dunk and his musicians. It brought back many memories of the days when Reginald Dixon ruled the roost at the Blackpool Tower.
Returning with the deeply romantic “Come Prima”, the strings and accordion reminded us that the whole of Europe seemed to be listening to this in 1958. Compere Ed Stewart asked us who originally had the hit with this evocative song, several folk offered up “Perry Como” but, as Ed reminded us, it was Marino Marini. The fiery “Gypsy Dance” from “Carmen” was expertly played before we enjoyed Monty’s own million seller “Cara Mia” with organist Wooldridge doing the honours on piano. The first half ended with a marvellously exciting “James Bond Suite”; first, Rod Dunk presided over an adaptation of the “James Bond Theme”, featuring guitarist Ian Laws, then came Monty’s delicate scoring of “From Russia With Love” and two Roland Shaw scores, “You Only Live Twice” and “Goldfinger”. The brass on the latter really roared, and the whole medley had a tempo which drew excited applause. While this was going on, the big screen was showing the famous James Bond “Iris” image bearing the legend “Mantovani Is Back”!
The bubbling “Can Can” from “La Boutique Fantasque” opened the second half, followed by a choice version of “It Happened In Monterey” with its lovely obligato scored by Ronnie Binge. This particular piece, and “Zapateado”, which followed, gave most trouble at rehearsals, but Rod Dunk made sure that “it was alright on the night”. Lapping wave sound effects drew us into the lovely soft introduction to Eric Coates’ masterpiece “Sleepy Lagoon”, an absolute gem highlighting Paul Barratt on glockenspiel. The effervescent “Tico Tico” and the plaintive “Arrivederci Roma”, featuring accordionist Eddie Hession, transported us to new heights of delight before Mike Lovatt delivered a blistering trumpet solo on “What Kind of Fool Am I”. So overcome was compere Ed Stewart that he asked for an unscheduled encore which Lovatt and the musicians gave with much good grace.
Michael Wooldridge now reappeared with his selection from “Phantom Of the Opera”, supported by flickering black and white images from the vintage movie starring Lon Chaney. His complete mastery of the Compton organ was evident throughout as it powered its way into every corner of the theatre. From this truly virtuoso performance, this writer recognised “All I Ask of You”, “Music Of The Night” and the main theme, among others. A rare gem from the ’50s, “Dream Dust” was beautifully played, percussionist Barratt showing us his skills on vibraphone, before David Rose’s classic opus “Holiday For Strings” – with pizzicato strings highlighted – made its appearance. Paul Barrett then donned his trolley conductor’s hat for “The Trolley Song”, accompanied by big screen pictures of San Francisco’s trolley buses. Another wonderful Milner scoring, “Granada”, brought the printed programme choices to a conclusion, but encores were sought and granted. As the opening bars of “Charmiane” were struck up, a large still photo of Ronnie Binge appeared on the screen, acknowledging his part in the creation of the Mantovani string sound – a really nice touch. With appropriate sound effects, “Thunder And Lightening Polka” brought the concert to a thrilling end. Or not quite. Ed Stewart, who was in impish mood throughout despite suffering a calf injury during rehearsals, asked for an unscheduled encore to the encore, and Rod Dunk kindly obliged.
A great show then, enjoyed by over 1200 patrons, in comparison with just over 700 drawn to the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s “Last Night Of the Proms” show in the same theatre the previous night. An interesting sideline was the introduction to the audience of viola player Brian Mack who had played on Mantovani TV shows many years ago. As always, Kenneth Mantovani willingly provided the sheet music and his unflagging support, and thanks are also due to co-promoter Franck Leprince and, of course, Paul Barratt himself, who worked tirelessly on and off stage to make this evening an outstanding success. Poole Audi, the principal sponsors, came up trumps, too, with a splendid reception in the “green room” afterwards. Let’s all hope that there will be more nights like this in the near future under the stewardship of Rod Dunk who brought the musicians to new heights.
Colin MacKenzie. Courtesy of ‘Journal Into Melody’
Mantovani Concert Spectacular [DVD]
Mantovani CD Collection
| LOOK OUT FOR TWO ALBUMS ON EACH CD (£9.00 + p&p) |
| 1 – Mantovani Olé / Latin Rendezvous LK 41132 |
| 2 – Concert Spectacular / American Scene LK 4157 |
| 3 – Italia Mia / German Album LK 4173 |
| 4 – Sound / Scene LK 4195 |
| 5 – Film Encores / Music From Films LK 4255 |
| 6 – Tango’s / Folk Songs LK 4265 |
| 7 – Romantic Hits / Mantovani Compositions LK 4287 |
| 8 – Hollywood / World of Mantovani LK4289 |
| 9 – Today / Musical Moments LK 4315 |
| 10 – More Magic / Evening with LK 4320 |
| 11 – Greatest Gift Is Love / Oliver Musical / Stop The World I Want To Get Off LK 4324 |
| 12 – Waltz Enores / American Waltzes LK 4341 |
| 13 – Incomparable / Songs To Remember LK 4347 |
| 14 – Gypsy / Stereo Showcase LK 4351 |
| 15 – Song Hits From Theatreland / Carnival LK 4356 |
| 16 – Continental Encores / Manhattan LK 4370 |
| 17 – Memories / Gems Forever LK 4374 |
| 18 – Strauss Waltzes / Favourites LK 4385 |
| 19 – Magic / Concert Encores LK 4388 |
| 20 – To Lovers Everywhere / With Love LK 4393 |
| 21 – Operetta memories / Mantovani Touch LK 4396 |
| 21a – Concert Successes LF 8147 |
| 22 – Golden Hits / More Hits LK 4409 |
| 23 – Mr. Music / More Film Encores LK 4412 |
| 24 – Great Films LK 4179 |
| 25 – A Song For You LF 8145 |
