George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower, also known as The Abyssinian Prince, was a renowned black classical violinist known for his professional relationship with Ludwig Von Beethoven. Bridgetower was said to have been from Barbados and spoke fluent English, French, German, Italian and Polish.
Bridgetower was born to John Frederick and Ann Bridgetower in Poland. His father, who was said to be an African prince, worked in the castle of a prince in Hungary. The prince operated an opera house with a private orchestra and employed the composer Franz Joseph Haydn. This is where a young Bridgetower learned about music and performance. He picked up a violin and was performing by age seven. His father now saw a way out of poverty.
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