Camille Saint-Saëns

Classical Music / Composer Datebook: October 9.

Short biography of Camille Saint-Saëns, French composer known for Suite 'Carnaval des Animaux' and the opera 'Samson et Dalila'

Camille Saint-Saëns, French composer, conductor, organist and pianist is best remembered for his orchestral Carnaval des animaux (Carnival of the Animals). He wrote many lyrical Romantic and orchestral pieces. 

He loved travelling and often arranged concerts. He enjoyed Africa, Uruguay,South America, and Algiers where he died at 86.  He married a much younger woman and had two sons but both boys died within six weeks of each other. Composer Gabriel Fauré was not only his protege but a close friend, and in the Fauré home, he assumed the “favourite uncle” role. 

Early Life of Saint-Saëns

Camille Saint-Saëns was born on October 9, 1835, in Paris. His father was a civil servant. He was raised by his mother and aunt Charlotte Masson, who gave him his first piano lessons before entering Paris Conservatoire in 1848. Like some of history’s great composers, he was also a child prodigy and a piano virtuoso. He made his concert debut as a pianist, aged 10.   

The Master Organist

Early on, his dazzling talents won him the admiration of Gounod, Rossini, Berlioz and especially Liszt, who hailed him as the world’s greatest organist. He excelled in Mozart works and was praised for the purity and grace of his playing, as well, he wrote in all established forms, from opera to chamber music.

 

Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 3 "Organ Symphony"

The Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78, was completed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1886 at the peak of his artistic career. It is popularly known as the 'Organ Symphony', since, unusually for a late-Romantic symphony, two of the four sections use the pipe organ. The composer inscribed it as: Symphonie No. 3 "avec orgue" (with organ).  The symphony was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society (then called simply the Philharmonic Society) in England, and the first performance was given in London on 19 May 1886, at St James's Hall, conducted by the composer. After the death of his friend and mentor Franz Liszt on 31 July 1886, Saint-Saëns dedicated the work to Liszt's memory. 

Below, the Auckland Symphony Orchestra performing Saint-Saens' Symphony no. 3 - "Organ" - Finale, conducted by Peter Thomas, with Timothy Noon on the Organ. From the concert "Organ Symphony" recorded November 2012 at the Auckland Town Hall. YouTube, uploaded by the Auckland Symphony Orchestra. Accessed October 9, 2018.

 

Suggested listening: 

Saint Saëns Symphony no.3, Organ Symphony - Sinfonia Rotterdam/Van Alphen. YouTube, uploaded by Sinfonia Rotterdam. Accessed October 9, 2018. 

Suggested reading:

Saint-Saëns Symphony 3. The Gramophone Newsletter. Written by Ivan March. Accessed October 9, 2021

Saint-Saëns’ Third Symphony, “With Organ”: Scaling the Summit. The Listeners' Club.  A blog by Timothy Judd. Accessed October 9, 2022.  

 

The Composer

French characteristics of his conservative musical style reside in his best compositions, for example, his classically oriented sonatas especially for violin and cello, chamber music Piano Quartet op.41, symphonies (No.3, the ‘Organ’ symphony) and concertos (No.4 for piano, No.3 for violin).  Among his many lyrical Romantic pieces are the celebrated symphonic poem Danse macabre, the opera with a biblical theme Samson et Dalila (Samson and Delilah, first heard at Weimar), and the orchestral Carnaval des Animaux (Carnival of the Animals) which he entitled “grand zoological fantasy” written for two pianos and a small orchestra. 

Camille Saint-Saens died in Algiers on December 16, 1921.

Here's  the popular aria "Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix" (My heart opens to your voice) from the opera Samson et Dalila. Absolutely stirring with such dramatic intensity and conviction from Olga Borodina and Placido Domingo.



Video Credit:

Saint Saens: "Samson et Dalila":"Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix" - Olga Borodina, Placido Domingo   Youtube, uploaded by Roberto Mastrosimone. Olga Borodina and Placido Domingo in Samson et Dalila. Gary Bertini, conductor. Hugo de Ana, director. Accessed October 9, 2018. 

Image Credit:

Camille Saint-Saens. Karadar / Public Domain.

Resources:

Symphony No. 3 (Saint-Saëns). en.wikipedia.org.

The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, New Updated Edition, edited by Stanley Sadie. London: Macmillan, 1994.

  

(c) October 2010. Updated October 9, 2022. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.