Original British quad poster

British Band leader George Melachrino Orch with two songs from the 1949  Movie the Glass Moutain starring Tito Gobbi w music by Nino Rota , with the famous Italian Alpine song La Montanara

The Melachrino Orchestra  – The Legend Of The Glass Mountain / Song Of The Mountains (La Montanara)
Label:
His Master's Voice – SAB 136


A The Legend Of The Glass Mountain
Written-By – Nino Rota
B Song Of The Mountains (La Montanara)
Written By – Ortelli - Pigarelli
Written-By – Pigarelli*, Ortelli*

Conductor – George Melachrino
Orchestra – The Melachrino Orchestra
Notes
From The Film "The Glass Mountain", 1949.

Orig Issue HMV 10" 78 rpm record

Condition:

VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS, unworn but rubbed, plays E very quiet w faintest crackle

The Glass Mountain is a 1949 black and white British romantic film drama. It starred Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray and Valentina Cortese.[1] The film was a popular success of its day, and was re-released in the UK in 1950 and 1953.[2] It features acclaimed classical vocalist Tito Gobbi as himself, with the orchestra and chorus of the Venice Opera House.[3] The theme music by Nino Rota is memorable, and was also a contemporary hit.[4][5] It was mainly filmed on location in the Dolomites and at Venice's La Fenice Opera House. Co-producer Joseph Janni also co-produced another film shot in Italy, the comedy Honeymoon Deferred, in 1951.

The Guardian wrote, "most reference books now deride the film, but at a time when Britain was emerging from the war into a period of grey austerity, The Glass Mountain and movies like it were a popular tonic. Set in the beautiful Dolomite mountains, with graceful performers and a nostalgically slow pace, it was one of the most successful British films to that date. The part of the composer was taken by Denison, with whom (Dulcie) Gray starred on stage and screen so many times that the Denisons became one of the "royal families" of the British entertainment scene." [6]

A tale from peasant folklore concerns a mountain made of glass and a man's attempts to climb it, to win the love of a princess. For each step he takes, he slides back two steps; so, cleverly, he turns about and climbs it backwards, gaining double elevation with each downward step.

George Melachrino (born George Miltiades; 1 May 1909 — 18 June 1965)[1] was a musician, movie composer, and musical director who was English born of Greek and Italian descent. He was an accomplished player of the violin, viola, oboe, clarinet and saxophone.

George Melachrino was born in London, England. As a young boy, he had a love of music. At the age of five, he began composing and by the age of fourteen he enrolled in the Trinity College of Music. In 1927, he began his career by singing and playing at the Savoy Hill Studios in London. For the next twelve years, he played in many different bands and orchestras. In the 1930s, Melachrino started working for bands led by Ambrose singing & playing saxophone with Carroll Gibbons at the Savoy Hotel London, and Bert Firman, and started playing on radio for the BBC. By 1939, he started his own band and secured a contract at the Café de Paris. He joined the Army a year later, and received training at the Corps of Military Police where he became a P.T. Instructor. Melachrino also gained experience as a military musician, at the Army Broadcasting Department, as Musical Director for the recording of entertainment for overseas forces, leading the British Band of the American Expeditionary Forces and the Orchestra Khaki. After the war, in 1945, he formed the George Melachrino Orchestra, an orchestra that became synonymous with sweet and melodious music[citation needed]. From 1945-1947 he conducted for Richard Tauber in most of his Parlophone recordings and BBC broadcasts.

In 1956, his orchestra's track, "Autumn Concerto", reached number 18 in the UK Singles Chart, and remained in the chart for nine weeks.[1]

Melachrino frequently performed on BBC and American Armed Forces Radio. He vied with Mantovani in trying to dominate the post World War II easy listening audiences[citation needed].

The Starlight Roof Waltz, as performed by the George Melachrino Strings, was the signature tune of the radio programme Moeders wil is wet (1949–1974), the Dutch equivalent of Housewives' Choice.

Melachrino has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.