Chevalier de Saint-Georges, real name Joseph Boulogne, was a prolific 18th-century French composer once dubbed the ‘Black Mozart’.Born the son of a slave and white plantation owner in 1745, Chevalier was a master fencer, soldier, violin virtuoso, leading conductor, and a composer.As well as writing numerous symphonies, sonatas, concertos, operas and string quartets, he led one of Europe’s great orchestras, Le Concert des Amateurs.He was the first black colonel in the French army and led an all-Black 800 infantrymen and 200 cavalries against France’s enemies.Renowned as the greatest swordsman in Europe. He was once attacked by five anti-abolitionists and Saint-Georges dispatched all five and went on to perform in a salon concert with friends that very night.He reached the height of his fame within Marie Antoinette’s court, where he was one of her music teachers. It is alleged that the Queen enjoyed playing with him publicly, and Boulogne was eventually fired because they got ‘too close’.Born 11 years before Mozart, who, was extremely jealous of him. There’s even a popular theory that Mozart used his jealousy of Boulogne to fuel the creation of the villainous black character Monostatos, who appears in his opera The Magic Flute.Maybe we should be calling Mozart the White Chevalier just sayingUnfortunately, a lot of the Chevalier’s music was lost during the French Revolution, and what survived was quickly forgotten.
So if you enjoy our content and want to support the creation of more join our history village and support our mission to share hidden stories from Black Culture.
The Black History Buff Podcast is a fully independent project.
We aren’t backed by a publishing house, advertising partners or a major enterprise. For our existence, we depend on our loyal listeners - we depend on you.
Membership benefits include:
- Early access to new episodes
- Bonus episodes and content
- Be part of the creation of new episodes
- Guest memberships
Click the link below to join the village
steadyhq.com/en/blackhistory
Check out our social media channels for interesting content
Instagram: / black_history_buff_777
Twitter: / blackhistorybuf
Facebook: / blackhistorybuff777
Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/blackhist...
Thank you, for listening, for sharing and for joining us on our mission.
King Kurus,
The Black History Buff
steadyhq.com/en/blackhistory
plnk.to/blackhistory/e/
#black
#history
#historybuff
#blackhistory
#blackisking
#historyoftheworld
#historychannel
#historyofafrica
#culturelive
#education