The accompanist’s revenge
mainThe incomparable Victor Borge.
Who’s the singer?
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I don’t know the lady in this clip.
All I can say – I saw this video on FB personal accounts of some very famous sopranos ( of today’s top 20, or so) – it has become viral ( and you, Brutus (deleted) Norman 😉
Marilyn Mulvey
I think she was a regular “straight man” for him. I saw them together in Boston in the 70s.
I had not seen this one before – thank you!
(And — unsurprisingly — he’s actually a rather sensitive accompanist, in the moments when neither of them are screwing around)
I enjoy watching clips of Victor Borge and have never been disappointed musically. I don’t know how he would do with, say, Beethoven’s Hammerklavier. Yet everything I’ve heard him play is technically impeccable and most stylish. My favorite is the Chopin Minute Waltz: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x35g7k8
Haha, that is wonderful!
He was also good at 4 hands piano music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8R0ZwYvXpg
Victor Borge although a wonderful comedian was a HORRIBLE man to his various ‘pick-up’ orchestras that he used/ hired in his long career. He was over-critical to the orchestral players, ‘picking on them,’ and generally treating them as if they were ‘beyond contempt’.
If he had been willing to PAY a bit more money he could have hired, in the UK, for his ‘show’, e.g. the RPO or the ECO, two outfits that were, at the peak of Borge’s career, rather desperate for some work.
He would have had some sort of unity and ‘togetherness’ from those orchestras, instead of the sort of scrappiness that he got from hiring e.g. a totally freelance ‘telephone band’ , or the awful ‘Wren Orchestra’ (now fortunately ‘defunct’).
The singer is Marilyn Mulvey.
What happened to the lovely Marilyn Mulvey? A search on the internet only brings up her videos with Victor Borge, can’t find her biography.
Yes,Neither I can find anything about this wonderful lady singer-anyone knows what happened to her-where she is ,any performances of her other then with my favorite pianist,Vic tor Borge
She is the cantor of the St. Mary’s Church in Milford CT.
Her is the bio from their website:
MARYLYN MULVEY (Picture on the site)
A native of Connecticut, Marylyn Mulvey was first place winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Finals. Her appearances with Victor Borge on stage and television have made her internationally known. She has appeared with most of the major symphony orchestras in the United States, Canada, and Europe; including the London Philharmonic, Royal Copenhagen, Winnepeg, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Cleveland Symphonies. Her operatic repertoire includes Gilda (Rigoletto), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Rosina (Il Barbiere di Sivilglia), Baby Doe (The Ballad of Baby Doe), and Adele (Die Fledermaus), singing with the New York City Opera, Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company, and Metropolitan Opera National Company, among others. Marylyn serves as Cantor and Soloist for the Saturday 4:30, Sunday 10:00 and 11:30 AM Masses, in addition to Holy Days and concerts throughout the year.
https://www.preciousbloodparishmilford.org/music
She’s very much alive, thank you!
I saw a scant reference that she had sung with the New York City Opera. But that’s it.
Ms. Mulvey is currently on the music staff at a church in Milford, CT.
https://www.preciousbloodparishmilford.org/music/
Thank you, l, too, also wondered what happened to Ms Mulvaney
Thank you. I couldn’t find anything about her at all.
…and was a winner of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions.
How lovely to hear from you. My brother and I have been sharing videos of your performances with Victor Borge for several hours tonight, primarily commenting about what consummate musicians you both are. And your exquisite voice. If you are on the music staff of a church–OMG what a lucky parish!
A musicologist, I place MM in the level of Renata Tebaldi. If MM decided to marry, withdraw from the rapid and sometimes unforgiving lifestyle of the diva, don’t blame her…. take a look in Italy… where coloraturas are and have been “purchased” and shut down from public performances by the very, very wealthy men. Disgusting, but life is a series of decisions. I love her handling of the high range, she is spectacular, to say the least… Another voice lost… Sandy Patty… see her perform the Stars Spangled Banner, and be prepared to emotively respond. She is yet another silky smooth star flyer, for sure!
Dr. E
Marilyn Mulvey is a seriously good singer, the comedy fades, but the voice is one of the best ever.
Are there any decent recordings of her singing?
Thank you all for your wonderful thoughts/comments. I am still singing, happy, healthy.
M-a-r-y-l-y-n Mulvey
Ms Mulvey -you are absolutely superb. Would so love to have heard more from you -but these Victor Borge videos are a treasure. Brava!!!
So glad to know you are well. Thank you so much for the laughs and for your wonderful voice.
What a beautiful voice you have and outstanding, sensitive command of the higher range. I echo the other comments, we would love to hear more of you, especially recordings that can be enjoyed again and again. All the best to you, and thank you for sharing your gift of singing – so extraordinary. Beautiful. God bless.
WOW!!! and may the Lord keep you happy and healthy. a blast from the past.
In my view you should have been a bigger star than Victor. Your voice is fantastic. Top class ! God bless your health and happiness for ever !
Hi Marilyn, I remember you from a long time ago at Briarcliff College. We were both in Mr. Widdis’s opera class. I was an art major then and am still painting.
Glad to hear you are doing well and still singing.
My maiden name was Anne Outhwaite, my married name is Anne Maurer.
I just watched you on Facebook with Victor Borge. My first thought was that my mother would have loved your voice. It was she who gave me my love of opera. So glad you are still singing and in good health. Thank you for sharing your beautiful gift.
Odd that I came across this tonight. I remember you from St. Margaret’s. And your singing in St. John’s at the Christmas Pageant.
Watching you perform the aria from Rigoletto with Victor Borge, I wished that we’d been able to watch you sing it solo. I was moved to tears. A spiritual dimension, for sure. Thank you.
Heavenly voice!!!!
Heavenly voice
Bravissimo – you and your voice are a gorgeous gift and such a blessing! Thank you for sharing!
How did you keep a straight face when singing with Victor Borge?
Thank you all for sharing such kind, heartfelt words and thoughts….always happy to receive them….no matter my age…. : )
I’m so thrilled to read your comment and hear that you are happy and healthy. You’ve inspired so many and brought so much joy! Long may your good health this continue; and, if there are any more recordings of your glorious coloratura I’m sure the world would love to hear them. Thank you from Brisbane Australia!
Marylyn, I don’t know why, but I happened to do a search for your name this evening, and this forum popped up. Way, way back in 1984, I was living in Jacksonville, FL. I was in the Navy and moonlighting on the weekends as a chauffeur. I was lucky to have the pleasure of driving for Victor Borge for a performance. I met you as well, and we chatted for a bit during sound checks earlier in the day. During our conversation I mentioned to you that my wife and I were expecting the birth of our second child. You asked for my address, and also asked if I would send you a birth announcement, which I did! Nothing thereafter, I received a package from you, which was a beautiful outfit for our son! We were so thrilled. I will never forget how friendly were, and how nice it was to send us that gift. Thank you, Marylyn, for your kindness and the wonderful memories. Peter W.
Hi Peter, I’ve just come across this site via Marilyn and Borge’s video. I met Borge in Copenhagen when he passed by a cafe I was in… I leaped out to meet him. I was stationed in Mayport my last 2 yrs of Navy 1971-73. Prior I was based in Newport. I became a clown, actor, director in avant-garde ie experimental theare mainly. Marilyn have you ever written or been interviewed about you time working with Mr Borge, and your own talent for comedy?
Tu sei meravigliosa…
Una voce e un’espressività come la tua sono qualcosa di indescrivibile.
Grazie di aver donato il tuo talento a chi ha avuto la fortuna di poterti ascoltare.
Un grande abbraccio. ❤️
I have loved your voice since first seeing you perform with Victor Borge when I was a child. I just found a recording of you singing “E il sol dell ‘anima” Rigoletto, live with Frank Munafo in 1969 on YouTube. Did you ever record any albums?