Joseph Bologne

Joseph Bologna, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745–1799), was a French violinist, composer, conductor, and soldier. Born to a father from Guadeloupe, he rose to fame in Paris despite racial prejudice. A virtuoso musician, he composed operas and was briefly Director of the Paris Opera before being ousted due to his mixed-race heritage. Nicknamed the “Black Mozart,” his legacy rivals that of Mozart himself. Some people even call Mozart the "White Chevalier de Saint-Georges".