Victor Borge - Performance at the White House
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- čas přidán 7. 12. 2008
- 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.
Met him at an airport and said “I love your humor” ! He smiled and said “thank you” and we went on our way.
A real gentleman.
One of the greatest pianists ever who pretended he wasn’t. Just a comedic and musical genius! The one and only Victor Borge!
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!
Yeps. You nailed it, sir.
That’s his absolute beauty ❤️
He never thought he was goid enough to be a classical pianist and that is why he became a comedian as well.
...I think he said he would always be too nervous to make errors as a mere classical pianist..
True words !!
"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." Victor Borge.
2021 and he's still a legend .
...and he will be!!!
He makes Tchaikovsky's 1st (and yes there are the much less famous 2nd and 3rd) look so easy, which is not the case!
Absolutely
I can confirm, 2022 and still a legend
We are people, and are gonna "die", but there are people that created something that will live forever, he is one of them!
"...one number is clair de lune and the other one.......isn't ! .." Haha
He hides his incredible skill and technique behind his amazing humour. I often forget or overlook the prodigal skill that this man had at the keyboard
‘Prodigious’, you meant?
He was an adult, though.
@@EtopEtim he was a child prodigy
Was he? 😊
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
What is the repeat tune called?
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 There must be some pieces around. I'd love to hear them!
+hiep le Here u go
+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.
+kraftpr /watch?v=_evCoEVaTQE
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.
He ALMOST convinces you that he can't actually play the piano but then he goes and does a thing like that at 5:40 . What an absolute genius.
@@demooisteNAAM sorry, that is absolutely not true
@@demooisteNAAM yeah you are incredibly wrong. Borge toured the world as a concert pianist before becoming a comic.
Victor Borge is sorely missed😢. Brilliant.
2:38 Absolutely HILARIOUS....licking his right hand fingers but turning the page with his left hand. Little bits of genius!!
also an old newfie joke! LOL
@@Madscheva97531 Newfie is a joke unto itself.
Like the Newfie hat. The hat with four flaps with arrows & N S E and W...so Newfies won't get lost.
I caught that and roared! Such subtle humor
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 was a consummate comedian, but notice that he was actually playing the beast that is Tchaikovsky's first concerto! He could play incredibly!
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!
Is the dog okay?
Victor should be compulsive viewing for all who suffer from misery, instant cure. What a genius.
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.
A comedic GENIUS! Timing, delivery, material beyond belief. And a great pianist besides.
My grandpa's neighbour was Gene Deitch. Are you related?
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.
I love Victor Borge. Always, he makes me smile and laugh. Silly yes, great, that too.
He made the music look so easy to play. A true craftsman and musican
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
Masterful talent!!
5:18 blows me away. Should make a great GIF
Then make it :)
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.
My god that was good. I’ve never realised how nuanced his performances are. Thanks for posting
Through his timeless humor he brought classical music to the masses.
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."
His physical humor of falling off his bench or chair never gets old! 😂
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".
Laugh out loud 😄
...and what an excellent musician he was
@@davidevans3227ll loo p loo I I I I go
How I wish we had entertainment like this. What great performances he gave
Hello!!! How are you doing today, please pardon me for intruding into your privacy but I just wanted to know if you’re a fan ? Have a great day.. Stay Safe!
Gosh, he's fabulous. I still have a tape of his and am so glad that he's available on the internet as well. Laughter really is the best medicine.
He took a real chance ruining those hands with that fall. Better stand-up comedy than most today and a genius on the keyboard. What talent.
Masterful talent coupled with good ol' Danish humour. Classic. Thanks for sharing.
Extraordinaire pianiste avec tant d'humour et de gentillesse ! Un génie ! Merci !
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.
What agreat artist he was, Victor Borge. He left us with so many funny and beautiful recordings!
Millions of people don't know what's that thing, unfortunately, I have to be one of them - Victor Borge 1950
That's a great formula for a joke.
Yes, it is
An phenomenally talented, brilliant man. Absolute genius.
Saw him in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1990s with the Louisville, Orchestra. Yes he was still going strong! What a performer!
Morgen morgen, sind wir wieder allein
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.
Q.f
He was silly and awesome all at the same time!
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.
CZcams is where we go to remember the legends
It doesn´t get better than this. Bravo.
Victor was always brilliant!
He was a grand master of comedy - what a lovely genius
A comic Genius and a darn great pianist.
Victor was a comedic genius. He could make the piano sing. Love this guy. Wish he was still here..
Hello Betty
How are you doing today?
What a genious!
This is the right atitude to the music, to life, to everything!
Whish I couls be such positiv person!
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.
As near to comedy genius as you're going to get. A classical brilliance added to a crazy comic style, absolutely unique.
He was surely one of a kind; so funny and yet so talented ♥️👍👍👍
Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎶🎵🎵🎵🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎵🎵🎵🎶
Hello!!! How are you doing today, please pardon me for intruding into your privacy but I just wanted to know if you’re a fan ? Have a great day.. Stay Safe!
VICTOR BORGE WAS A GENIUS IN THE PIANO.
...AND A FUNNY GUY TOO !
Absolutely Loved This Genius
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. :)
skvakagud Agreed . . . laughter is the best medicine . . . except maybe not for diarrhea
Adolph of Gant LOL!!
skvakagud Isn't he was jewish?
Albert Khavinson And? Hebrews are all over the world my friend, including, but not limited to Denmark.
Of course he's Jewish . . . why do you think he played so well . . . and his quick wit . . OY VEY!
4:32 This piece is the theme from The Third Man by Anton Karas; he's doing a parody of the zither instrument.
12 years later is the perfect time? I'm not complaining but next time a bit earlier please dear algorithm
With so many people at home during the pandemic, YT ran out of fresh & new, so had to bring out the greats from the archives!
😄
Ineptitude through the eyes of genius. Rare archive. Nice references from prchristman - thank you. Just off for more...
Brilliant thank you
oh my word he is so funny so talented.. to do the things he says and does and get it all on point.. what a man.. thankyou so much 🙂
Always makes me laugh out loud ...what a performer !!
He was one of the best one of my favorites. God bless you Victor Borge.
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.
I've heard he had serious stage fright but could get past it through comedy
@@SchlurmsOfficially I never knew that. Sounds logical.
Brilliant, skilful, humorous and so sleek...a great talent in music wizardry. Thank you sir for teaching us to distress and laugh.
Rest in paradise, Maestro.
Beloved for all time.
🎹🎼🙋🌍✨❤️
2022 and still a legend, Amazing talent, Love him
So true
the best ,ever ❤
I dont think there will ever be such a musical Genios again.
There never was another superb musician who was this funny, or a comedian who played piano so brilliantly.
WRONG. I am a Genios, but I have always longed to be a Genius.
I'd rather watch these old videos of Victoria Borge than any of the "comedy" on TV or streaming today. Borge makes me laugh more than anybody now.
never gets old
I will always love this man 🥰
He is amazing and genius!
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 !
Hello Ruth
How are you doing today?
I love this!!
No one as good as Mr. Borge....actually a great pianist as well as fine comedian!!!
💞 Just brilliant! 💞
Hello
How are you doing today?
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...
Absolutey AMAZING Victor Borge !!!
love it love it!!
One word: GENIUS !!!
He always will be a legend.
Cant remember when was the last time i laughed and enjoyed sth this much, he is/was amazing!
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 !!!
Hello Judy
How are you doing today?
i saw him Melb Australia about XXXX years ago --- I never laughed so hard in my life at anything at all
40 years ago ?
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.
amazing!
That legend was the real deal , one of the kind entertainer and music genius !
LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!
It's amazingwhat you can find onCZcams! Love it!
Such a brilliant musician and comedian
Thank you for posting
VB the Great Dane
Thank you for your love of comedy and music.
Bet he and Liberace have SRO shows all of the time up there>
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.
literal genius
no one ever like Mrs Victor. very well miss him. RIP in heaven
Victor borge gave the comedian inspiration to Mr. Bean.
Mr. Borge is the first Bean.
@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.
Great show man!!!!!!
Impeccable ❤
Oh, thank you so much!
I greatly appreciate your good information!
:)
Brilliantl! 👏
Virtuoso who found most original and entertaining way to compensate for all those endless hours of practicing
Love him!
A talented muscian and comedian. Enjoyed the video!
Hello Betty
How are you doing today?