Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George

an important figure in the Paris musical scene in the second half of the 18th century as composer, conductor, and violinist. Known as the "black Mozart"he was one of the earliest musicians of the European classical type known to have African ancestry.

Saint-George wrote symphonies, roughly 25 concertos for violin and orchestra, string quartets, sonatas, and songs in the style of Mozart, Haydn and the composers of the "Mannheim school". He also wrote at least five operas with a possible sixth opera, Le droit de seigneur, disputed among music scholars. Excerpts from his first opera, Ernestine, were also used in an opera pastiche, Recueil d’airs et duos, along with music by other composers.