In 1769, the Parisian public was amazed to see Saint-Georges, the great fencer, playing as a violinist in Gossec's new orchestra, "Le Concert des Amateurs". Four years later he became its concertmaster/conductor. In 1772 Saint-Georges created a sensation with his debut as a soloist, playing his first two violin concertos, Op. II, with Gossec conducting the orchestra. "These concertos were performed last winter at a concert of the "Amateurs" by the author himself, who received great applause as much for their performance as for their composition." According to another source, "The celebrated Saint-Georges, mulatto fencer violinist, created a sensation in Paris ... [when two years later ... at the "Concert Spirituel", he was appreciated not as much for his compositions as for his performances, enrapturing especially the feminine members of his audience."