Joseph Bologne: Black Mozart in the White Wig
Event description
Bologne was an acquaintance of the composer Mozart, and close friend and music companion of Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI. Born in Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, Bologne was the son of a wealthy planter and Nanon an enslaved African woman. During the French Revolution he was colonel of the Légion St-Georges, the first all-black regiment in Europe.
Through music, poetry and exposé, explore Bologne’s extraordinary life with an opening introduction by Chi-chi Nwanoku MBE, principal double bassist and founder of the Chineke! Foundation.
Historian S I Martin will deliver an overview of this most amazing polymath, interspersed with the music of Chevalier played by young musicians of the Chineke! Foundation, including Braimah Kanneh-Mason (violin), Elodie Chousmer-Howelles (violin), Didier Osindero (viola), and Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello) winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2016.
Witness the mastery of the poet Adisa The Verbalizer as he takes Chevalier to another level, and enjoy tours about Africans in Europe in the New Europe 1600 – 1815 Galleries researched and written by the V&A's African Heritage Volunteer Guides Stella Akintan, Nadia Denton, Pennie Mendes, and Kim Sheldon.
In celebration of the opening of the new Europe 1600 – 1815 Galleries at the V&A
Fee: £5, no concessions
For tickets telephone the Bookings Team on 020 7942 2211, or book online here.
Image: Monsieur de St. George' (Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, 1745 – 1799) © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Michael Graham-Stewart Slavery Collection