The music of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, has been receiving increased attention along with that of other Black composers, and this recording of his symphonies concertantes, along with one of his two surviving symphonies (much of his music was lost during the French Revolutionary era), is valuable. Boulogne was a fascinating figure, a star violinist, a conductor who introduced much of Haydn's music to Paris, and a champion fencer to boot. Boulogne was the son of a French manager on Guadeloupe and his ...
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The music of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, has been receiving increased attention along with that of other Black composers, and this recording of his symphonies concertantes, along with one of his two surviving symphonies (much of his music was lost during the French Revolutionary era), is valuable. Boulogne was a fascinating figure, a star violinist, a conductor who introduced much of Haydn's music to Paris, and a champion fencer to boot. Boulogne was the son of a French manager on Guadeloupe and his Senegalese slave; the father acknowledged his son and sent him to France for an education that may have included lessons in composition from Gossec and violin playing from Leclair. The two symphonies concertantes (concertos for a group of soloists and orchestra) heard here date from the late 1770s, which was early in the history of that genre; for this reason alone, lovers of music of the Classical era will want this release. The high technical level of the solo parts is attractive and...
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