STRATO-VANI

Founded by Marc Cortens and conducted by Luc Smets, the Strato-Vani has been described as Belgium's answer to James Last thanks to their easy listening arrangements of Flemish hits from the last 60 years. Largely ignored by radio and TV, the 26-piece orchestra has still managed to sell over 100,000 copies of their several eponymous studio albums, and in 2012, they achieved their biggest success with Viva Strauss, a tribute to the works of the legendary Austrian composer featuring Italian tenor Rudy Giovannini. ~ Jon O'Brien