Joseph Bologne Chevalier Saint-George: A Lecture Recital

Joseph Bologne Chevalier Saint-George; Forgotten Star in the Constellation of History: A Lecture Recital

Joseph Bologne Chevalier Saint-George was an exceptional violinist, composer, improviser and conductor as well as equally famous as a champion fencer, dancer, skater, rider and hunter. He was of French-Creole descent having been born in the colony of Guadeloupe to an enslaved woman and a wealthy plantation-owning Frenchman. An influence to both Mozart and Beethoven, Saint-George held some of the highest musical positions in France and conducted the premiere of Haydn’s Paris Symphonies. He was a friend and teacher to Marie Antoinette and was sought after in the company of the highest society in France and England. Despite this acclaim, Saint-George’s experience was tarnished by racial discrimination which led him to become involved in revolutionary and abolitionist activities during the French Revolution.

Lecture by Erin James