Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745 – 1799) was much more than “just” a composer of classical music. A Hollywood script couldn’t even compare to the larger-than-life figure of this multi-talented man.
He was born in the French colony of Guadeloupe, the son of George Bologne de Saint-Georges, a wealthy married planter and his wife's African slave. His father took him to France to receive a “proper” education and after grammar school, he was enrolled at an academy for fencing and horsemanship. This is where de Saint-Georges started to break ANY mold that the 18th Century French society would try to put him in. The son of the Master of the school wrote: “At 15 his progress was so rapid, that he was already beating the best swordsmen, and at 17 he developed the greatest speed imaginable.”
He didn’t stop there, he was also known as a Master horseman and took those skills with him when he joined the French Revolutionary Army, eventually becoming a Colonel. Bologne's friend, Louise Fusil once wrote: "He was admired for his fencing and riding prowess, he served as a model to young sportsmen ... who formed a court around him." He was also a talented dancer (and considered very handsome) and was frequently invited to balls, much to the delight of noble ladies.
Yeah, it gets better.
He was known for his violin technique, described as “prodigious”. Then there is his acumen as a composer. Operas, Symphonies, Vocal Music, Chamber Music… The list goes on. It’s been noted that he frequently was invited to the Palace of Versailles at the request of the Queen (Marie Antoinette) to play music with her.
The point being, the next time you’re listening to 90.9 WGUC and hear a piece by de Saint-Georges, know that there was SO much more to the man sometimes known as “the black Mozart”. In my opinion, he’s about as close as you can get to a real-life superhero.
