A Word: Becoming “The Black Mozart”

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4 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2023

⏱️ 19 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Even classical art can be revolutionary. That was true for violinist Joseph Bologne. He was a biracial musical prodigy who worked and charmed his way into the center of 18th-century French society. But the new film “Chevalier” shows how even his genius couldn’t save him from the poisonous combination of bias and envy. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by actor Kelvin Harrison Jr., star of “Chevalier.” They talk about rediscovering this largely forgotten musical history, and Harrison’s critically acclaimed work on stage and screen. Guest: Actor Kelvin Harrison, Jr. Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel You can skip all the ads in A Word by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/awordplus for $15 for your first three months. Make an impact this Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund APIA Scholars. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is a word, a podcast from Slate. I'm your host, Jason Johnson. The new movie
0:09.5	Chevalier tells the story of Joseph Ballon, a renowned violinist and composer who
0:14.3	moved in royal circles in pre-revolutionary France, his genius challenged ideas
0:18.9	about race and excellence, something that appealed to the film's leading man,
0:22.6	actor Kelvin Harrison Jr. My job is to make sure that the audience can
0:27.3	understand what Joseph is coming from, and it's not my job to make you like him.
0:30.8	But my job is to make sure you understand him. The star Chevalier, Kelvin
0:35.2	Harrison Jr. coming up on a word with me, Jason Johnson. Stay with us.
0:48.9	Welcome to a word, a podcast about race and politics and everything else. I'm your
0:52.4	host, Jason Johnson. The new film Chevalier, starring actor Kelvin Harrison
0:56.9	Jr., tells a story of French violinist Joseph Ballon. Known as the black
1:01.9	Mozart, Ballon became a star of society in pre-revolutionary France, and a friend
1:07.3	to Marie Antoinette before embracing the fight against the monarchy. Until this
1:12.3	movie, Ballon's music had largely been lost to history, and that's not an accident.
1:17.4	After his death in 1799, his work was deliberately erased from public records by Napoleon
1:23.4	Bonaparte, because Ballon's excellence challenged Bonaparte's ideas about the racial
1:28.5	inferiority of African people. Then those racist ideas limited Ballon's choices
1:33.6	during his life, including his decision not to marry. His anguish over that was depicted
1:38.7	in the film. I fear marriage is not in the cards for me.
1:43.5	Why? Too much fun bedding admirers from your concerts night after night?
1:51.4	It is illegal for someone of my complexion to marry someone of my class.
1:56.3	Why not marry a Negro when that is perfectly legal? Unless of course you do not prefer them.
	...

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