Victor Borge performs his musical comedy routine at the White House. At the show he notices all the pianos in the White House play the same tune, and has trouble playing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1.
This man is so utterly brilliant, it is sick... To have that skill and then to make fun of all the stuffy traditions of classical in order to bring laughter to people is one of the greatest gifts that a person can give. A one of a kind genius period!
As much as I always loved Mr. Borge's hilarious comedic performances, I've always wished I could have heard him play in concert during his "serious" days as a virtuoso pianist in Denmark. His comedic playing only gives us rare glimpses at what his playing must have been like in those days.
+kraftpr Aren't there already enough *serious* pianists out there, who have given and give much to the world with what they do? By contrast, there never has been or ever will be another Victor Borge. Let's all be grateful that he was eventually able to find the niche he did.
I've only just discovered him and I immediately felt the same way. You can just tell he's an absolute master at playing, but sadly you never get to see it. Funny as all hell, but I hope there's something out there of him doing a full song.
If you notice when he plays Strauss you can see the smirk before he plays the repeat tune lol. This guy was comedy gold. Never will be anyone like him again. Also this was back when even non musicians got the musical jokes. Love it lol
Here’s something I like about this comment. It has 118 likes in 4 years and not a single person pointing out that you clearly meant “compulsory” and not “compulsive”. They like the comment because they knew what you intended to say. The reason I like this is because it just goes to show that there is a certain portion of the internet that are still sensible and we are the lucky few to have found that part of the internet.
is this on dvd? At age 90 he came out on stage, took the microphone, and a puff of smoke came out of his mouth. the audience reacted and he said "Mexican Food".
My Mom took me to see him on Broadway around 1955. He was quite entertaining, but it was always a little frustrating for her, because she wanted to hear him play a serious piece to completion, which he never did.
This was in 1953, 70 years ago! One of the best to do it. To think he was 44 by this time. I remember watching him as a kid and loving his act. Most of the same jokes for decades, but never got old!
He's beyond brilliant. A hard thing to live with, so he "mixed a little water with the wine". This is the first time I have ever seen him perform. Before that just a name. Seems that brilliant pianists turn to comedy, since I had such a friend/lodger in the late 70's.
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He is so funny! His work is as fresh and entertaining today as it was 55 years ago when this performance took place. Victor Borge will live on forever thanks to video clips like these. I've been laughing so hard I scared the dog. Thanks for posting, DocCaeruleus!
I treasure the fact that I got to see him live. Checking up some dates, I guess it must have been in 1999, in Sweden (Linköping, to be precise). Totally amazing. On stage there's this 90-year-old man, still playing the piano really well, which just shouldn't happen. This 90-year-old man with total command of the most brilliant physical comedy, which ... I don't even know... And he did all these old jokes that must have been like over 60 years old because... well... um... he invented them more than 60 years previously. And he told them like I had never heard them before, ever! And how I laughed! Wow. Just wow.
You may already know that Mr. Borge was a serious concert pianist in Europe and performed with major orchestras before he accidentally went down the wrong path into humor (he never forgave himself). He also spoke no English in the beginning of his career. And I believe he had six children one of whom traveled with him and appeared on stage for his page turner routine. He also had a weekly evening nationally broadcast tv show during the '50s.
I've just discovered this absolute genius of a man thanks to two friends totally independently sharing clips of him because they thought I would like him. Absolutely wonderful
Just imagine being SO good, that simply being the best of the best of the best of classical pianists is TOO EASY.... and you think, "I'll combine it with stand-up comedy."
Like most people of my generation, I was introduced to him on The Electric Company. But as I grew up seeing his many television appearances (being a very non-accomplished piano player myself), I fell in love with his mix of humor and virtuosity.
Repeating a posting from 9 years ago: Nominal Egg wrote: This is actually from an episode of The Abbott and Costello Show (the Colgate Comedy Hour). It wasn't actually taped at the White House...that's a ruse that's part of the skit. The show was celebrating Dwight Eisenhower's inauguration [Jan. 1953 -Mr. Goodman is Benny Goodman cracking up]. These shows are available on DVD, and contain classic material by comic geniuses! Repeating another posting: GracelynMusic wrote: 6 years ago Terrific. Some of you will be old enough to get the political humor of the piano which could only play "Mary Margaret Truman Was The Daughter of the Prez" at the beginning of the Eisenhower administration. What a whippersnapper!! C: The tune was "The Missouri Waltz" and the doggerel words were: Mary Margaret Truman is the daughter of the Pres She lives in the White House with her ugly mother Bess Her social rating is not worth debating For she is a member of Phi Beta Phi When her father Harry gets the gate in forty-eight Mary Margaret Truman will be left without a date She'll move to Missouri and work in a brewery So let's all drink beer! Ole'. Actually Mary Margaret Truman was a well-known performer and author. Check her out on YT.
The one thing i'm truly proud of as a Dane (been from Denmark.).. We might have invented alot of great things, we might be leading in the production of X amount of things.. But he is the definition of Danish humor.. Ofcourse aclimated to international humour, but still.. And a comedian join people together, if we laugh together we forget about been mad at eachother. That's probably the most important thing we can do together, and one can do for others. Make people smile and laugh. :)
I think he played with comedy out of a sense of boredom and wanting more out of the audience. he was a genius and he wanted to be self efacing. Kick the seriousness off the stage and make fun of himself. Maybe it helped him forget WW2. Who knows? Everyone is gone who could tell us. I just think he was very special. I will always remember that as a musician. I miss him on TV. Very special Saturday nights. I could never miss it.
Good thing it wasn’t 30 years ago. I’d question whether it was him you were watching, or a guy who can use the 3rd pedal. “Who do they think I am?” -Victor B.
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As a young teenager in the 1960s l remember seeing Victor Borge play a duet with Leonid Hambro (l think) and swatting an imaginary fly with a fly swatter at the same time.... it was so funny l never forgot it! But could never find out who it was.....I’ve only recently discovered that it was this amazing man.... l would love to see that clip once again! I hope someone can post it !
Vielen Dank für Victor Borge , das ich das hier sehen kann.Victor Borge ist für mich ein perfektes Genie,ein wunderbarer Meister und ein vollkommener Magier seines Faches,der alles auf brillante Weise verzaubert . Lieben Dank und viele Grüße...
If he didn't have the amazing skill and gift of playing the piano the way he does, he wouldn't be able to fool around and make up peices as he goes along. He's a real scream !! What talent !!!
I can forgive that they skip 98% of one of my all time favorite and one of the most underrated pieces in music (Tchaikovsky‘s first concerto) because he is hilarious and I love him.
@MrHypnofan The long wooden strut that holds up the piano lid has a chunk that folds out (the gadget). You can raise the entire strut and have the lid up very high, or you can lay the main strut down, and just fold up that "gadget", and it is a smaller strut that holds the lid up just a little bit.
Victor Borge performs at the Truman White House. This kinescope is an excerpt from an episode of The Colgate Comedy Hour, originally telecast by NBC on January 11, 1953
