George Bridgetower - Henry | WDR Sinfonieorchester

George Bridgetower's ballad "Henry", in an arrangement for soprano, two violins, viola and violoncello by Pierre-Alain Chamot, performed by vocal soloist Benita Borbonus and members of the WDR Symphony Orchestra on March 6, 2022 at the WDR Funkhaus in Cologne. George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower - Henry Ballade in an arrangement for soprano, two violins, viola and violoncello by Pierre-Alain Chamot Benita Borbonus, soprano (WDR Radio Choir) Sara Etelävuori, violin Pierre-Alain Chamot, violin Sophie Beckers, viola Gudula Finkentey-Chamot, violoncello (Members of the WDR Symphony Orchestra) ► For more on the symphony orchestra, concerts and current livestreams, visit https://sinfonieorchester.wdr.de ► The WDR Symphony Orchestra on Facebook   / wdrsinfonieorchester   ○ Introduction to the work George Bridgetower's life story is grounded in European racism. His father probably came from Ethiopia - a highly educated man who, according to the circumstances of the time, did his service as a "chamber moor." Initially, he worked at the court in Biała Podlaska, Poland, where he met his wife - a German named Schmidt - and where George was born in 1778. After his father moved to the court of Prince Esterházy, George received music lessons from the chapel master there, Joseph Haydn. Bridgetower was what is called a child prodigy: at the age of seven he made his first public appearance as a violinist. At his concerts, he was always announced with different names for his origins, "son of an African prince" being one of the more respectful ones. When he was eleven years old, his father moved with him to London. There George gave a concert together with the then nine-year-old violinist Franz Clement. Both took turns playing for the favor of the audience, which applauded them equally. In London, the British Prince Regent, later King George IV, championed his musical education. Bridgetower was also employed by him for a time and gave concerts on his behalf throughout England. In the spring of 1803, the violinist traveled to Vienna, where he was hailed as a sensation. One of the enthusiastic concertgoers was Prince Joseph Lobkowitz, known as a patron of Haydn's and Beethoven's compositions. At that time it was the "Eroica" that Beethoven was working on. It seems that the prince introduced the composer and the violinist to each other. It was quickly decided that Beethoven would compose a sonata for Bridgetower. After the premiere, one critic found the Londoner to be "really a very strong violinist, overcoming great difficulties with happy boldness and ease." Occasionally Bridgetower composed himself. His ballad "Henry" is dedicated to the Princess of Wales. The three stanzas culminate in a confession of love: "My heart, my soul is thine, my dear. I live only for you, Henry". (Text: Otto Hagedorn)