WWU opera: The Anonymous Lover - Notes

A living legend that was almost made Anonymous from history

By Xaria Siplin

Xaria Siplin graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Musicology in the Fall of 2023.  

 Joseph Bologne, also known as “Chevalier de Saint-Georges” was a Frenchman born in the colony of Guadeloupe on Christmas day in 1795. Born to a Senegalese enslaved woman named Nanon and plantation owner George Bologne, he is most known today for being the first black composer to achieve recognition within the European classical world. But that’s not the only string to his bow, also having been recognized as a masterful conductor, swordsman, activist, and dancer throughout France. While unfortunately, most of his biographical information is unknown, there are some basic facts available. After his father was accused of murder, Joseph Bologne was taken to France for an education at around six or seven, where he was taken to the Académie Royale Polytechnique des Armes et de L’équitation, studying mostly fencing and horsemanship. Having probably studied violin since he was young, Bologne would go on to write for multiple genres of music, from concertos, to operas, string quartets, symphonies and more. While initially known for being an associate of Marie Antoinette, when the French Revolution began, Bologne joined the National Guard and was a member of the Legion St-Georges. The Legion was unique in the fact that all the members were freemen of color, either being black or biracial. Eventually the Legion disbanded, Bologne returned to France where he would live until his death in 1799.  

The Anonymous Lover is the only surviving full opera of Bologne’s to have been found, as unfortunately most of his work was either lost or intentionally destroyed, and what remains of his other operas are only a few scenes or arias. This is because once Napoleon rose to power in France, he reinstated slavery in the country, insisting Bologne’s works and other art by black people to be deemed ‘without merit’ and erased. But thankfully, this work has survived to be performed today. In terms of operas, Bologne interestingly was a fan of writing opera comiques or comedic operas more than other genres, and The Anonymous Lover is of no exception. So please, sit back, have a laugh, and fall in love!