Victor borge, who has died aged 91, was not the first comedian to have contrived his act from sending up or mutilating serious music. You laugh when borge sits down at the piano now that he has sat down at the typewriter, youll roar. Dec 28, 1986 the first piano was built long after they didnt have any at all, explains victor borge in his nutty professors version of keyboard history. Victor borge, dead at 91, combined music, comedy reuters pianist victor borge, who died in his sleep saturday at his greenwich, connecticut home, was known as the unmelancholy dane of international show business. Victor borge biography victor borge was born in copenhagen, denmark januar 3, 1909, the son of bernhard and frederikke rosenbaum. Victor borge, dead at 91, combined music, comedy reuters pianist victor borge, who died in his sleep saturday at his greenwich, connecticut home, was known as the unmelancholy dane. Pianist, composer, songwriter, entertainer and actor, educated at borgerdydskolen and the conservatory of copenhagen. Victor borge, danishborn american pianist and comedian who was known worldwide for his irrepressible humour, which combined deadpan delivery, clever wordplay, satire, irreverence, and physical comedy as well as music. This past year i started taking piano lessons from a woman who plays in the local symphony and gave a copy to her as a thank you gift. His father played first violin with the royal danish philharmonic orchestra for 35 years and his mother, a pianist, began teaching her son to play the piano when he was three. His best known work was in comedy in music, which became the longest running oneman show in the history of theater with 849 performances, a feat which placed it in the guinness book of world records. These are perhaps the funniest videos i have ever seen. I studied the piano with leonid hambro at california institue of the the arts in the 1980s.
Like his mother, borge began piano lessons at the age of two, and it was soon apparent that he was a prodigy. Carson cant keep up with rodney dangerfields nonstop oneliners 1974 duration. Victor borge was a child prodigy who trained at the danish royal academy of music. Viewers wont want to miss the oneliners, falls, double takes, mastery of piano variations and outrageous stage antics in victor borge. Musical humorist victor borge was born borge rosenbaum in copenhagen, denmark on january 3, 1909.
Dedicated to victor borge and in the style of his parodies at the piano, this piece for one piano, four hands is a lot of fun to play. Borge began piano lessons at the age of two, and it was soon apparent that he was a. Borge rosenbaum, known professionally as victor borge, was a danish comedian, conductor, and pianist who achieved great popularity in radio and television in the united states and europe. Dec 23, 2000 victor borge, born borge rosenbaum, was a danish comedian, conductor and pianist, affectionately known as the clown prince of denmark, the unmelancholy dane,and the great dane.
These were recorded flat and then also equalized with turnover. Dec 26, 2000 victor borge, who has died aged 91, was not the first comedian to have contrived his act from sending up or mutilating serious music. If youve yet to discover him, victor borge was a danish classical music lover, piano virtuoso and comedian born in 1909. But he did it with more style than anyone else, in a way which had more widespread and longlived appeal. His best known work was in comedy in music, which became the longest running oneman. The first piano was built long after they didnt have any at all, explains victor borge in his nutty professors version of keyboard history. Victor borge hall, located in scandinavia house in new york city, was named in borge s honor in 2000, as was victor borges plads victor borge square in copenhagen in 2002. Born in copenhagen, denmark, he was the son of jewish parents, bernhard and frederikke rosebaum, who were both musicians. Victor borge biography famous people in history, famous. Borge cowrote several books with robert sherman, among them my favorite intermissions 1971, victor borges my favorite comedies in music 1980, and borges musical briefs 1982. Victor borge american comedian and musician britannica. Born borge rosenbaum in copenhagen, denmark in 1909, victor borges.
Victor borge at his villa on saint croix island, virgin islands. He was known for his radio and television works in the united states and europe borge was known as the clown prince of denmark. Share funny quotes by victor borge and quotations about music and laughter. Arriving in the us in 1940, he made his american radio debut on the bing crosby.
Victor borge b 1909 victor borge, often called the clown prince of denmark, was born victor borge rosenbaum in copenhagen on 3 january 1909. Danishborn musical comedian who combined virtuosic piano skills, a sharp wit, sight gags, and an irrepressible sense of humor in his stage performances. Victor borge london weekend borge clockwise 1972 hebarab sub duration. Victor borge was a danishamerican comedian, conductor and pianist. We enjoy victor borge s talent and took a chance ordering the cd and are very pleased with it. Dec 23, 2000 victor borge borge rosenbaum pianist, comedian born.
Victor borge simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Borges mother began teaching him to play the piano when he was three, and it. Borge was born borge rosenbaum in copenhagen, denmark, into a jewish family. Borge doesnt seem to belong to the story of standup comedy, which played out during his career. His blend of music and comedy earned him the nicknames the clown prince of denmark, the unmelancholy dane, and the great dane. Borge was recognized as one of the funniest performers the world has ever known. He was born as born borge rosenbaum in copenhagen, denmark, into a jewish family. Find victor borge biography and history on allmusic musical humorist victor. His broadway production, comedy in music, ran for an unprecedented 849 performances.
Victor borge biography childhood, life achievements. His parents, bernhard and frederikke rosenbaum, were both musicians his father was a violinist in the royal danish chapel, and his mother played piano, borge began to lear piano at the age of three, and it was soon apparent that he was a prodigy. The very best of victor borge, volume 1 dvd,the legendary victor borge entertained the world with his clever and unique blend of comedy and music. Dec 23, 2000 victor borge was a child prodigy who trained at the danish royal academy of music.
Born in copenhagen, borge was the youngest of five sons of the musicians frederikke and bernhard rosenbaum. It came promptly and the quality of the sound was fine. Born borge rosenbaum in copenhagen, denmark january 3, 1909, the great dane, the unmelancholy dane, and the clown prince of denmark was a piano prodigy, giving his first recital at the tender age of 8. Tea for two malagena star dust nola trees one fine day tales from the vienna woods the third man theme nocturne the blue danube waltz. I cant say enough about the skill of victor borge at both performing piano and. Victor borge quotes author of my favorite intermissions. And victor borge began his performing career with a piano debut in 1926 at the age of seventeen. He was also lovingly known as the clown prince of denmark, the unmelancholy dane and the great dane. Victor borge, born borge rosenbaum, was a danish comedian, conductor and pianist, affectionately known as the clown prince of denmark, the unmelancholy dane,and the great dane.
Victor borge was born borge rosenbaum on 3 january 1909 in copenhagen, denmark, into an ashkenazi jewish family. Victor borge bio, albums, pictures naxos classical music. He successfully weaved the aforementioned three genres into a praiseworthy performance that began in the 1950s. But he did it with more style than anyone else, in a way which. Had beethoven, wagner, berlioz, mozart and the other great composers in this book known that victor borge was watching, perhaps they would have been a little more careful. Borge began piano lessons at the age of two, and it was soon apparent that. Copenhagen danishborn musical comedian who combined virtuosic piano skills, a sharp wit, sight gags, and an irrepressible sense of humor in his stage performances. If you love victor borge youll enjoy his telling of actual anecdotes about some of history s great composers, concerts and opera performances. Victor borge was a jewish danish humorist and musician.
Forum guest book about this site awards received dansk version. Primo and secondo change positions in the middle of the piece, as the secondo player ascends all the way up the keyboard. Also, for comic relief, victor borge s my favorite comedies in music borge gives hilarious accounts of the lives of the great composers and musiciansif you like dave barry, or richard armour, youll love thishe also has a second equally funny book, my favorite intermissions in music. Check out this biography to get detailed information on his life. His parents, bernhard and frederikke rosenbaum, were both musicianshis father a violist in the royal danish orchestra and his mother a pianist. Borge made broadway history in the 1950s when his show, comedy in music, ran for 849 performances at the golden theater, a record for a. Victor borge and comedy in music the new york times. Reaching his waiting piano, he sits down with quiet majesty and falls over backward with a loud crash.
Digitized from a shellac record, at 78 revolutions per minute. This disc offers vintage television appearances from comedianpianist victor borge intertwined with moments from a live concert performed 40 years later. Victor borge is quite funny and i enjoy his videos. Borge rosenbaum 3 january 1909 23 december 2000, known professionally as victor. Comedy writer jeffrey gurian described him, however, as the new norwegian victor borge, while the swedish paper goteborgposten called him the franz liszt of. At times, like when he missed the piano stool, you could almost. Danish comedian victor borge plays piano jokes that have. Victor borges my favorite comedies in music by victor borge, robert sherman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He was named borge rosenbaum, and his musical talent was no surprise as his father was a musician in the royal danish chapel.
The english soundtrack does what it can with the poor quality of some of the source materials. His concert career began in 1922, and he performed in a musical revue in 1934, and in films by 1937. By the time he fled denmark for the united states at the start of world war ii, borge was known best as a comedian. Borge s mother began teaching him to play the piano when he was three, and it. Mix profound passion, a couple of parts bach and a couple parts dad jokes and youve got yourself victor borge. Born into a musical family, his father was a professional violinist at the royal danish philharmonic orchestra, his mother a pianist, borge began playing the piano at three. He first performed as a serious classical pianist, but his talent for whimsy overtook the music. From january 23 to may 9th 2009, the life of piano playing comedian victor borge, is going to be celebrated by the americanscandinavian foundation with victor borge. He is remembered for blending humor and symphony music and having his audience laughing while listening to a classical piece. His parents, bernhard and frederikke nee lichtinger rosenbaum, were both musicians.
Comedy in music prism by victor borge 5014293657020 cd. While the danishborn pianist and comedian victor borge emphasized more on humor than playing the piano, norwegian aksel kolstad 36 is a piano virtuoso using humor in his presentations. Book of records as the longest running oneman show in theatrical history. Buy victor borges album titled comedy in music prism to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. He was the son of bernhard and frederikke rosenbaum both of jewish descent and worked as musicians in the royal danish orchestra his father was a violinist at the orchestra while borge s mother was a pianist which greatly influenced and exposed him in the world of.