author
Camille Saint-Saëns
1835–1921
A dazzling child prodigy who grew into one of France’s most admired musicians, he wrote with elegance, energy, and a gift for unforgettable melody. His music ranges from the playful charm of The Carnival of the Animals to the dramatic sweep of Samson and Delilah and the “Organ” Symphony.
4 Audiobooks
On the Execution of Music, and Principally of Ancient Music
by Camille Saint-Saëns
Musical Memories
by Camille Saint-Saëns
Rimes familières
by Camille Saint-Saëns
Portraits et souvenirs
by Camille Saint-Saëns
About the author
Born in Paris in 1835, Camille Saint-Saëns showed extraordinary musical gifts almost at once. He became known not only as a composer but also as a brilliant pianist, organist, and conductor, and his long career placed him at the center of French musical life in the 19th century.
He wrote in many forms, from concertos and chamber music to opera and symphonic poems. Among his best-known works are The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, the Symphony No. 3 known as the “Organ” Symphony, and the opera Samson and Delilah. He was admired for clarity, craft, and versatility, and was often seen as a composer who balanced Romantic feeling with classical discipline.
Saint-Saëns remained active for decades and continued traveling, performing, and writing late into his life. He died in Algiers in 1921, leaving behind a remarkably wide-ranging body of music that still feels vivid, colorful, and rewarding to hear.