Weekend self-care open thread—The music of Chevalier de Saint-Georges

I think I'll allow his Wikipedia entry to speak as an introduction.

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (December 25, 1745 – June 10, 1799) was a champion fencer, classical composer, virtuoso violinist, and conductor of the leading symphony orchestra in Paris. Born in the French colony of Guadeloupe, he was the son of George Bologne de Saint-Georges, a wealthy married planter, and Anne dites Nanon, his wife's African slave.

His father took him to France when he was young, and he was educated there, also becoming a champion fencer. During the French Revolution, the younger Saint-Georges served as a colonel of the Légion St.-Georges, the first all-black regiment in Europe. He fought on the side of the Republic. Today the Chevalier de Saint-Georges is best remembered as the first known classical composer of African ancestry; he composed numerous string quartets and other instrumental music, and opera.

My question is: Where is this man's epic costume drama? Fencer, composer, violinist, and soldier! Accomplished black man in a white man's world! This would be a role tailor-made for Idris Elba.

However, as singular a man as the Chevalier was, we have to remember that everything comes with pain. He was the result of the rape of a black slave woman. Did she ever see her son again? Did she know what became of him? Did he know what became of his mother? These are the questions which we must consider as we celebrate his life this weekend.

For this weekend's self-care, we take in some of his music. As the bleak mid-winter settles in, allow a bit of Parisian and Guadeloupean light transport you away.

As always, take care of yourselves and others.