PORTRAIT
Joseph Bologne de Saint-Georges (1745–1799)

Joseph Bologne de Saint-Georges: excerpts from the opéra comiques L’Amant anonyme and Ernestine, Symphony in D major, String Quartet Op. 1 No. 4, Sonata in G minor, concert arias, Violin Concerto in C major.
Antonio Lolli (c. 1725–1802): Violin Concerto No. 7.

Lauranne Oliva, soprano · Bastien Rimondi, ténor · Victor Sicard, baryton

Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal
Théotime Langlois de Swarte, violin and conductor

As the first American composer, a person of mixed race and a tireless adventurer, Chevalier de Saint-George lives on through the quality of his music. Born in Guadeloupe, the son of a white landowner and an African slave, he was educated in France and became one of the best violinists of his time, an orchestra and opera conductor, and Marie Antoinette's music teacher. An outstanding fencer and revolutionary, in 1792 he founded the Free American Cavalry Legion, composed of free black and mixed-race soldiers from the West Indies, of which he was the colonel. Théotime Langlois de Swarte and the Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal deliver a portrait of this flamboyant musician, forgotten for two centuries: was he the Black Mozart ?

Recorded from December 3rd to 7th 2023 and from September 15th and 19th 2024.

You may find the booklet, available in French and English, by clicking here.

You may find this recording on our online shop by clicking here.