EUROPHILE - Episode 90 - France - Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Feb 22 2024 45 mins 1

Coucou everyone!

Hailed as the "best composer and musician of the kingdom (of France)" - there is nothing that Joseph Bologne was bad at. A skilled musician, athlete, dancer, and revolutionary, he had the ladies of the French court swooning and tbh now we have crushes on him. Tune in to hear all about the life of this incredible talent. Then, things take a left turn as we talk about the crazy things rich people do...like eating a French delicacy called ortolan.

Main topic sources:

Who was Chevalier de Saint-Georges? - BBC

His Name Is Joseph Boulogne, Not ‘Black Mozart’

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, One of the First-Known Composers of African Descent

The real Chevalier: How the son of a Senegalese slave became a favourite of Marie Antoinette and led the finest orchestra in Paris as he wowed pre-revolutionary France…as new movie depicts him going bow to bow with Mozart

Chevalier de Saint-Georges wiki

Mini topic sources:

The Medium: The Illegal French Delicacy: Ortolan

Atlas Oscura: Ortolan Bunting

Kate's recommendation: Manacled by Senlinyu

Catherine's recommendation: "Chevalier," (2022)

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