Early Music Guild Presents 'Le Mozart Noir' For Black History Month

For the celebration of the Black History Month, Early Music Guild is presenting a Seattle Baroque Orchestra concert, "Le Mozart Noir". Despite his different accomplishments little is known about Joseph Bologne, also known as Chevalier de Saint-Georges.

According to Seattle Times, "Le Mozart Noir" will have two violin concertos and it will also include early symphony by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in recognition of their likely meeting as children. Moreover, the program will also play pieces that circle around Saint-Georges like Jean-Marie Leclair's Concerto for Violin and Strings in B-flat major, a nod of unproven claims that Leclair, taught Saint-Georges. 

Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 85 in B-flat major ("La Reine"), one of the Austrian composer's so-called Paris symphonies and a work commissioned and first conducted by Saint-Georges for the orchestra Concert de la Olympique. In Early Music Guild report, Saint-Georges was known as "Le Mozart Noir" were one of the greatest composers of the late Baroque/early classical period. 

He was the first man with African ancestry to lead France's most important orchestras. Between these unequal landmarks, he was well-known in France as a superior teenage athlete, a champion fencer of tremendous skill and speed.  In time, he would also be known for anti-slavery activism. But today not so many people remember him including the general audience and many professional classical musicians. 

But Quinton Morris, an associate professor, and director of the chamber and instrumental music at Seattle University toured the world last year lecturing about Saint-George performing his music and screening a short film on the subject. "The Breakthrough" which won a top prize at the European Independent Film Award festival.

During in his tour, many people were shocked to know that there is a black violinist in classical music history. "Le Mozart Noir" will be performed on February 3, 2017, Friday, 7:30 PM at Nordstrom Recital Hall. There will be a pre-concert talk with Dr. Quinton Morris at 6:30 PM. 

TagsBlack History Month, Early Music Guild, Seattle Baroque Orchestra Concert, Le Mozart Noir, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn's Symphony, Concert de la Olympic