In an age of remarkable individuals, Joseph Boulogne, le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, son of a councillor in the Parlement at Metz and a black woman from Guadeloupe, occupied a unique position as athlete, swordsman, military commander, huntsman, violin virtuoso and conductor (Saint-Georges premièred Haydn’s “Paris” Symphonies). His violin concertos provide a fascinating insight into his strengths as a violinist. Written for his own use, they require great agility while the gravely beautiful slow movements are among the finest of any composer of the period.