Anastasia Tsioulcas, writing for The New York Times, reviewed the new musical The Chevalier, which explores the life of 18th-century composer Joseph Boulogne, also known as the Chevalier de Saint-Georges. Despite a slow start, Tsioulcas says the work eventually “finds a witty, incisive groove” and offers “sparkling, taut performances.”
Why it matters:
- Tsioulcas writes that the show unfolds as an imaginative dialogue between Boulogne and the young Mozart, challenging the notion of Boulogne as a mere “Black Mozart” and highlighting his mentorship role in guiding Mozart through the politics of musical Paris.
- The production interweaves narrative elements with musical excerpts, providing insight into Boulogne’s life and contextualizing his music, while drawing parallels between 18th-century France and contemporary America, addressing issues of racism and violence.
- The work is available to stream Feb. 4-18 at www.mb1800.org.
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