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Victor Borge's My Favorite Comedies in Music
America's favorite (great) Dane proves himself just as funny on paper as he does on film. Here Borge examines the lives of such musical geniuses as Schubert, Mendelsohn, and Brahms with hilarious results.
150 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1980
3 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Victor Borge
30 books23 followersVictor Borge, born Børge Rosenbaum, was a Danish comedian, conductor and pianist, affectionately known as The Clown Prince of Denmark, The Unmelancholy Dane,and The Great Dane.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 22, 2016
03/11: What's not to love about Victor Borge? This is so much fun. I am going through it so quickly though. I should re-read it s-l-o-w-l-y.
Here's a footnote from the chapter on Haydn that cracks me up: "... At one of them, Haydn snitched the prince's recipe for punch, and carefully copied it in his notebook. Try it sometime, it calls for one bottle of champagne, one bottle of burgundy, one bottle of rum, ten lemons, two oranges and a pound and half of sugar."
Still, my favorite footnote appears after the thought, "De Meyer also had the disconcerting habit of moving the piano around to different parts of the stage in the middle of a concert, and when he got tired of playing, he'd make speeches to the audience, instead." Footnote: "Well, who doesn't?"
Here's a footnote from the chapter on Haydn that cracks me up: "... At one of them, Haydn snitched the prince's recipe for punch, and carefully copied it in his notebook. Try it sometime, it calls for one bottle of champagne, one bottle of burgundy, one bottle of rum, ten lemons, two oranges and a pound and half of sugar."
Still, my favorite footnote appears after the thought, "De Meyer also had the disconcerting habit of moving the piano around to different parts of the stage in the middle of a concert, and when he got tired of playing, he'd make speeches to the audience, instead." Footnote: "Well, who doesn't?"
August 10, 2017
I've been a fan of Victor Borge since my father showed me some of his PBS specials when I was a kid, so when I found this book at a used book sale, I knew I had to have it. And I was NOT disappointed! This is one of the funniest books I have ever read, and it is written in precisely the way Borge speaks; in many instances, I can hear him reading the actual passages like it was one of his bits. Anyone who is a fan of Victor Borge should read this book at once.
August 3, 2015
Rated PG.
I absolutely adore musical humor! I am so glad that I found this at the library. It's full of hilarious tidbits of information mixed up with fantastic footnotes. There's quite a lot of humor and a bit of made-up stuff in the middle of the biographical information, but this is an excellent read in every way. Good show!
I absolutely adore musical humor! I am so glad that I found this at the library. It's full of hilarious tidbits of information mixed up with fantastic footnotes. There's quite a lot of humor and a bit of made-up stuff in the middle of the biographical information, but this is an excellent read in every way. Good show!
June 19, 2023
Found this in a thrift store and I was so thoroughly tickled that I bought it!
I love music, but Borges’ way of writing about it makes it accessible for everyone! His musings on great musicians and how fallibly human they were (and often scandalous!) were so enriching and entertaining to read.
From instruments to conducting to composers, Borges’ travel through time is a hilarious ode to music and the people that have made it throughout history.
A deliciously fun read.
I love music, but Borges’ way of writing about it makes it accessible for everyone! His musings on great musicians and how fallibly human they were (and often scandalous!) were so enriching and entertaining to read.
From instruments to conducting to composers, Borges’ travel through time is a hilarious ode to music and the people that have made it throughout history.
A deliciously fun read.
Want to read
December 24, 2012Added 12/24/12
Recommended by Arnie of my GR group. Arnie wrote the following at my group on 12/24/12: "Also, for comic relief, Victor Borge's 'My favorite Comedies in Music'---Borge gives hilarious accounts of the lives of the great composers and musicians---if you like Dave Barry, or Richard Armour, you'll love this---he also has a second equally funny book, 'My favorite Intermissions in Music..'"
Recommended by Arnie of my GR group. Arnie wrote the following at my group on 12/24/12: "Also, for comic relief, Victor Borge's 'My favorite Comedies in Music'---Borge gives hilarious accounts of the lives of the great composers and musicians---if you like Dave Barry, or Richard Armour, you'll love this---he also has a second equally funny book, 'My favorite Intermissions in Music..'"
March 13, 2019
amusing for a few days, without particular interest in borge. found in neighborhood book box and was entertained a couple times.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews