New attention is finally being given to Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the European Black 18th century composer. A major Hollywood film about him has been in the early planning stages for about a year and there's still no date even about when filming will begin. But here in Sacramento we're way ahead of Hollywood.
Bologne was born in the French Caribbean to a plantation owner and a Senegalese slave. Educated in France, against the odds he rose the social ladder as a dazzling violinist, composer and champion fencer. Here in Sacramento, the Chevalier Project, led by Producer and cellist Susan Lamb Cook, Producer and writer Deborah Pittman, and others, are creating their own film about his life story and music that will be available this Fall with a study guide for young school students. The film will feature Omari Tau as Bologne and narrator, and performances by local young violinist Amaryn Olmeda, pianist Parker van Ostrand, and the Chevalier String Quartet comprised of world-class musicians of our region including violinist Chase Spruill.
Read more about this project.
CapRadio will also feature Bologne's music in our upcoming Concert Series, filming now at CapRadio. You'll hear more about that soon. In the meantime, listen for the Violin Concerto in A-major by Bologne this afternoon at 2:00pm on CapRadio Music (with friend to local music schools, violinist Rachel Barton Pine, as soloist).
