Tafelmusik Performs Music of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges at its Toronto Home Dec. 4-7

[Le Mozart Noir: Music of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges; Tafelmusik Orchestra; Jeanne Lamon, conductor; CBC Records SMCD 5225 (2003)]]

Chevalier de Saint-Georges

An aristocratic resurrection

Tafelmusik breathes new life into music of composer once known as the black Mozart

Nov 22, 2008 04:30 AM

John Terauds

Classical Music Critic

“A Visa Infinite card's throw from the tony rue Saint-Honoré in Paris is a side street inscribed 'rue du Chevalier de Saint-Georges, 1739-1799, Musicien et Chef d'Orchestre, Colonel de la Garde Nationale' (musician, conductor and colonel of the National Guard). That sign evokes the Ancien Régime, aristocratic peccadilloes, noble causes, duels, elegant clothes and powdered wigs. Except that this wig topped the milk-chocolate-coloured face of a mixed-race individual who was for two decades the toast of Paris. A growing number of scholars and fans are doing their best to make sure we can again hear that story – and the music it begat. Jeanne Lamon, music director of the Tafelmusik Orchestra, is one such passionate advocate. In the course of the next 10 days – including concerts at the orchestra's Toronto home at Trinity-St. Paul's Centre from Dec. 4 to 7 – the violinist will preside over a classical-era program. On it, a well-known Mozart symphony, a Haydn cello concerto, and two symphonies by Joseph de Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges – one in the 'concertante' style, giving two violinists opportunity for extra fireworks. 'It's such an interesting story, and it's very charming music,' says Lamon. 'Putting it in a program with Mozart and Haydn is a bit unfair to Saint-Georges. He won't come out as the shining star. But the story is so interesting.' She continues: 'I hope people will conclude that this is still music worth hearing and worth having in the repertoire.' This is only the second time that Tafelmusik has programmed pieces by Saint-Georges. The first was six years ago, when the orchestra presented the composer's music inside a staged dramatization of his life, as well as in a 2003 film, Le Mozart Noir, aired on CBC-TV's long-defunct Opening Night show (and now available on DVD). There is disagreement regarding the spelling of Saint-Georges' name, as well as his birth date. But no one contests that he led an extraordinary life and that his music is pretty – the violin writing more accomplished even than Mozart's.” [Full Post] [Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, where pages are devoted to his biography, fencing career and recordings]

Tafelmusik Orchestra
Jeanne Lamon
Joseph Bologne
Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Black Mozart
Tafelmusik CD & DVD