The Chevalier
Music Before 1800, Concert Theatre Works, United Palace of Cultural Arts, WQXR, and The Harlem Chamber Players have teamed up to shed light on the historically neglected Black polymath Joseph Bologne. The staged concert theater work tells the story of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799), a prolific 18th-century composer, virtuoso violinist, abolitionist, the finest fencer in Europe, general of Europe’s first Black regiment, and an acquaintance of both Mozart and Marie Antoinette. Despite his captivating biography, Bologne was largely forgotten by history.
The Chevalier
The Life & Music of Joseph Bologne
The Life & Music of Joseph Bologne
Written and Directed by Bill Barclay
Sunday, January 21 @ 4PM (doors at 3PM)
United Palace
United Palace
4140 Broadway, NYC
Brendon Elliott, violin
Harlem Chamber Players
RJ Foster (Joseph Bologne)
Merritt Janson (Marie Antoinette)
David Joseph (Mozart)
Merritt Janson (Marie Antoinette)
David Joseph (Mozart)
Bill Barclay (Pierre Choderlos de Laclos)
Post-Concert Q&A hosted by Terrance McKnight
Some highlights:
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Music Before 1800 and United Palace of Cultural Arts are co-presenting this event at the United Palace, a venue described by the New York Times as “Byzantine-Romanesque-Indo-
Hindu- Sino-Moorish-Persian-Eclectic- Rococo-Deco” and a “kitchen sink masterpiece.” -
This global touring production is written and directed by Music Before 1800’s newly appointed artistic director, Bill Barclay.
- WQXR is a media partner for this event.
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The Chevalier was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2018, debuted at Tanglewood, and has been presented a dozen times in the US – including with the Cleveland Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, and at Caramoor and Chautauqua. January 21 at United Palace marks the long-awaited NYC debut of this successful and innovative tour.
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This performance is central to Music Before 1800’s first-ever season-long thematic throughline. Five concerts form the “spine” of the season with a deep look at 500 years of French music from medieval ars nova to Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
- WQXR’s Terrance McKnight will host a post-concert Q&A with cast members.
