Anthony Ventura, the stage name of Werner Becker (born December 4, 1943, in Celle, Germany), is a renowned German musician, arranger, and producer celebrated for his contributions to easy-listening orchestral music.
Raised in Hamburg-Harburg, Becker’s musical journey began in childhood when a neighbor gifted him a piano with lessons. His talent led him to master additional instruments like accordion, guitar, and trumpet.
Initially pursuing a career as a typographer and graphic designer until 1964, he shifted to music full-time, joining the Melodic Telstars and discovering the Hammond organ. In 1972, he played piano with Randy Pie, but found greater success as an arranger.
In 1973, under producer Reinhard Streit, Becker launched the Je t’aime – Traum Melodien series as Anthony Ventura, crafting a signature orchestral sound with hits like a reimagined “Je t’aime … moi non plus.” The sixth album, 20 Traum Melodien (1977/78), topped charts and sold over a million copies.
Selling over ten million albums, Ventura earned gold awards. After the series waned in the late 1980s, Becker focused on producing for artists like Matthias Reim and Jeanette Biedermann, while later embracing country music with his own band.
82 recordings by Anthony Ventura you can hear at Instrumentals Forever:
Adagio Cantabile (Beethoven) – Nocturne In E Flat Major (Chopin) • Adagio from the “Klaviersonate Nr 6″ • Air (Bach) • Aloha Oe • Andante aus dem Violinkonzert e-moll – Polowetzer Tänze aus ”Fürst Igor” • Another Day in Paradise • Aranjuez • Ballade pour Adeline • Barcarole from ”The Tales of Hoffmann” • Bilitis • Blue Bayou • Bridge Over Troubled Water • Bright Eyes • Caprifischer • Cecilia • Che angelo sei – Maledetta primavera • Die Moldau (Smetana) – Solveig’s Song (Grieg) • El Condor Pasa • Eternal Flame • Etude In E Major (Op 10 No 3) (Chopin) • Everything I Do (I Do It for You) • Fantasie-Impromptu – Intermezzo sinfonico aus ”Cavalleria rusticana” • Fernando • For Anne • From a Distance • Heimweh • Hey Jude • Homeward Bound • I Am A Rock • I Have A Dream • Killing Me Softly With His Song • Kleine Anuschka – Oh, My Darling Clementine • La vie en rose • Lady in Red • L’importante è finire • Mama • Mama Leone • Mann müsste noch mal 20 sein • Menuett von Boccherini • Michelle • Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven) • Morning Has Broken • Mrs. Robinson • Nothing Compares 2 U • O sole mio – Schlafe, mein Prinzchen • One Moment in Time • One More Night • Per Lucia – Non ho l’età • Piano Concerto No 21 (Mozart) – Largo (Händel) • Prisoners Chorus (Verdi) – Für Elise (Beethoven) • Raindrops (Prelude) – Klavierkonzert Nr 1 b-moll • Ramona – La Montanara • Reverie (Schumann) • Right Here Waiting • Romance in F Major (Beethoven) – Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod) • Romanze aus ”Eine kleine Nachtmusik” – Liebestraum • Rote Rosen, rote Lippen, roter Wein – Violetta • Sailing • Santa Maria • Save The Last Dance For Me • Scarabough Fair • Schau mich bitte nicht so an (La vie en rose) • Schiwago Melodie (Lara’s Theme) • Senza una Donna • Sharazan • Si • Soleado (Tränen lügen nicht) • Still Crazy After All These Years • Symphonie Nr 40 KV 550 g-moll • The 59Th Street Bridge Song • The Boxer • The Sound Of Silence • Ti amo • Tornero – Non succederà più • Tornerò – Non succederà più • Tu soltanto tu – Felicità • Waltz No 15 In A Flat Major (Brahms) – Largo (Dvorák) • We Are the World • Weisse Rosen aus Athen – Ein Schiff wird kommen • What a Wonderful World • Wind of Change • You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling – Unchained Melody •
