Chevalier De Saint-Georges: Violin Concerto In G Major Op. 8, Complete. Shelby Yamin, Violin 8K

The complete Violin Concerto in G Major, Shelby Yamin, classical violin. Live 8K video from our January 2025 concerts. This work presented here for the first time in 8K.
The first movement of Bologne’s Violin Concerto in G may be familiar to those who have seen Chevalier, the 2023 film about his life. As with any popular composer such as Corelli and Vivaldi, Bologne’s concertos were pirated and widely published with different opus numbers, so No. 2 also appears in print as No. 9. The concerto is highly virtuosic, pushing the violin to the limits in pitch, velocity, and intricacy. In addition, Bologne composes with a graceful tunefulness and a careful treatment of the orchestra, not letting it get in the way of the soloist. The second of the three movements, in G minor, is gently lyrical, the soloist joining the orchestral violins in intimate trio passages. The third movement wraps up the excitement neatly in a sprightly rondo. (Nicholas Jones)
Space here does not permit to list all the details of his extraordinary career. From Wikipedia: Bologne was a French violinist, conductor, composer, and soldier of African descent. Moreover, he demonstrated excellence as a fencer, an athlete, and a dancer. His historical significance lies partly in his distinctive background as a biracial free man of colour. Bologne was the first classical composer of African descent to attain widespread acclaim in Western music. He composed an array of violin concertos, string quartets, sinfonia concertantes, violin duets, sonatas, two symphonies, and an assortment of stage works, notably opéra comique.
Born in the French colony of Guadeloupe, his father, Georges Bologne de Saint-Georges, was a wealthy, white plantation owner, while his mother was one of the Senegalese people Georges kept enslaved. At the age of seven, he was taken to France where he began his formal education.
He joined the orchestra Le Concert des Amateurs, culminating in his appointment as its conductor in 1773. In 1776, Saint-Georges began conducting the Paris Opera. (Wikipedia)
Voices of Music Classical Orchestra
Hanneke van Proosdij, director & harpsichord
Shelby Yamin, classical violin
First violin
Isabelle Seula Lee, Augusta McKay Lodge** Maxine Nemerovski & Shelby Yamin*
Second violin
Aniela Eddy, Kati Kyme* Linda Quan & Noah Strick
Viola
Maria Caswell* Lisa Grodin & Anna Washburn
Violoncello
Eva Lymenstull, Joanna Joy Neuschatz & Elisabeth Reed*
Viennese bass
Farley Pearce*
**concertmaster *principal
performed on period instruments
Violinist Shelby Yamin brings signature vivacity to performances across the globe, from the historic staterooms of George Washington’s Mount Vernon to the storied chapel at Versailles. Shelby has appeared as a soloist with Philharmonia Baroque Chamber Players, Voices of Music, House of Time, New York Baroque Incorporated and The Oregon Bach Festival orchestra. Dedicated to diversifying the canon, Shelby regularly researches, performs, and records lesser known works, including 18th-century repertory from the music library of Nelly Custis and, more recently, the violin duets of Maddalena Lombardini Sirmen (1745-1818). Shelby’s discography includes the first ever recording of Sirmen’s entire opus of violin duets on period instruments (Orpheus Classical Label, 2021). In addition to performing regularly with the Cleveland based ensemble Les Délices, Shelby is also the Associate Producer of their Early Music webseries, SalonEra. Shelby has earned degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and The Juilliard School, where she won the Historical Performance Concerto Competition. She currently resides in New York City.
Performed on period instruments A=430 Hz
Boby Borisov, audio engineer and ambisonics design
Video: Lloyd Hryciw & Rob Clevenger
8K technology: David Tayler
Produced by David Tayler
Post Production: David Tayler & Andrew Levy
Audio mastering, video cutting and final 8K color and render: David Tayler
Copyright 2025 Voices of Music
#chevalier
0:00 I. Allegro
10:14 cadenza
11:34 II. Largo
16:11 cadenza
18:26 III. Rondo
21:41 credits