Track Listing

1. Introduction/Lesson In Recognition
2. Shedding Light On Clair De Lune
3. Variations On A Theme
4. Mozart Opera By Borge
5. Inflationary Language
6. Borge Plays Liebestraum
7. Borge Family Background
8. Phonetic Punctuation
9. Borge Plays Requests
10. Borge Plays The Minute Waltz
11. Borge Has The Last Word

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11249 in Music
• Released on: 2001-10-22
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com

Phonectically Speaking is a collection of Danish-American Victor Borge's favourite routines that admirably displays how his humorous wizardry with words and his virtuoso dexterity with the piano produced his unique mixture of classical music and comedy.

Customer Reviews

Classic routines from a comic genius
Victor Borge was a unique performer, combining the skills of a concert pianist with the timing and insights of a great comedian. Always impeccable, the complete gentleman, Borge's was a sophisticated, intelligent humour, humane and humanistic, though not without teeth - acerbic, witty, fast, but delivered with a voice which is as warm and silky as a glass of Drambuie. A Dane, he escaped ahead of the Nazi invasion and settled in the USA, rapidly becoming an adopted son ... and quickly establishing a role as an international treasure. He made regular appearances on British television in the 1950's, 60's, and 70's, and his comic routines were regularly played on the radio. Borge was part of my childhood, and I'm sure his memory is cherished by many of my generation.

His comedy, however, is timeless, and this CD not only offers some of his most famous routines, it also demonstrates his comic technique - verbal swordplay with the audience, teasing them, lulling them into false expectations before pulling the carpet from under them. You can hear how much the audience loved this man ... and you can hear how much he loved performing.

The jokes are timeless. I've heard them all before, so many times, but they never fail to make me laugh. Oh, there's an element of nostalgia, here - the jokes trigger happy memories, put me in a good mood, a good frame, but they are funny nonetheless. Borge dissects Mozart. He strips opera of its pretensions. He makes music fun. You have to guess at some of the things he's doing - Borge had a very visual act, his deadpan face capable of so much expression, his casual, hesitant moves underscoring the timing of his humour. And his timing is superb! But you have to marvel at the imagination - listen to him inflate language, or add punctuation to the spoken word.

Sophisticated, humane, surreal in places, a comic genius and a personality which makes you feel warm and secure. Introduce someone to Borge and watch their face light up!