Le Mozart Noir – Symphonies by Chevalier Saint-Georges, Mozart & Haydn
One of the greatest composers of the early classical period was Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier Saint-Georges. Known as “Le Mozart Noir”, he was one of the earliest musicians of the European classical tradition to have African ancestry. Incredibly, this son of a slave overcame adversities of class, race, and prejudice to become a major musical star all over Europe inspired both Mozart and Haydn. Today, he is almost entirely forgotten.