Evening at the Pops: Victor Borge (1986)

This program, taped at Symphony Hall in Boston, features special guest Victor Borge, known for his unique blend of comedy and piano music. The program begins with John Williams conducting the orchestra in a performance of the following selections from the "Suite from Peer Gynt" by Edvard Grieg: "Morning," "Anitra's Dance," and "In the Hall of the Mountain King." Williams then introduces Borge, whose routine combines piano music, stand-up comedy, sight gags, musical antics, and bantering with orchestra members. Borge performs a well-known piece entitled "Humoresque"; conducts the orchestra in a comic performance of a piece entitled "Dance of the Comedians" by Bedrich Smetana, in which he purposely mixes up sheet music and forces the orchestra to pause and hold notes for inordinate lengths; and enacts his rendition of a one-act comic opera which he claims was composed by Mozart, describing each scene as he performs it. Williams returns to conduct the orchestra and Borge in a serious performance of the finale of Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninoff. Borge receives a standing ovation, and the announcer makes brief remarks about Borge's recent engagements and his popularity as an entertainer. The program concludes with Williams conducting the orchestra in a musical tribute to Frank Sinatra, arranged by Morton Stevens, featuring the songs "Come Fly With Me," "Call Me Irresponsible," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "My Way," "My Kind of Town, Chicago Is," and "All the Way."