Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921); FRA

Saint-Saëns, (Charles) Camille (b Paris, 1835; d Algiers, 1921). Fr. composer, pianist, and organist. Showed mus. aptitude as child almost comparable with Mozart's. Gave pf. recital in Paris 1846. Entered Paris Cons. 1848, studying org. with Benoist and comp. with Halévy. Organist, Eglise Ste-Merry, Paris, 1853-7, Madeleine 1857-77. In 1852 met and became friends with Liszt, by whom he was much influenced. Wrote his first syms. c.1848 and 1850 (unpubd.) and became pf. prof. at École Niedermeyer 1861-5 (his pupils incl. Fauré and Messager). Wrote first opera 1864-5 and began work on Samson et Dalila in 1868. In 1871 was co-founder of Société Nationale de Musique, formed to encourage development of Fr. instr. sch. To this end wrote a series of excellent symphonic poems. By this time was in demand as solo pianist and organist, and was soloist at the f.p. of his 5 pf. concs. between 1865 and 1896. First visit to Eng., 1871, to play Albert Hall org. Liszt prod. Samson et Dalila at Weimar 1877, Parisian impresarios regarding the biblical subject as too serious (not prod. at the Opéra until 1892). His best sym., No.3 in C minor (the ‘Organ’) was ded. to Liszt's memory and f.p. in London, 1886. In later life Saint-Saëns travelled widely and stayed often in Algeria, some of his later works reflecting local colour. Visited USA in 1915. Last visited Eng. 1913 to conduct The Promised Land at Gloucester Fest. Wrote coronation march for Edward VII in 1902. Saint-Saëns's output was prolific and extended for most of his 86 years. Elegance of form and line, beautiful harmonies and chords were more important to him than emotional feeling or technical adventure, and his mus. has therefore been condemned for its superficiality and facility. Nevertheless these very qualities, to which may be added graceful melodic invention, have ensured the survival of a large amount of his work. It is significant that he was admired by Ravel, another emotionally undemonstrative composer. His best features are to be found in Samson et Dalila, the 3rd Sym., and the pf. concs. Hon. CVO 1902. Prin. comps.:

OPERAS:Le Timbre d'argent (1864-5);Samson et Dalila (1867-8, 1873-7);La Princesse jaune (1872);Etienne Marcel (1877-8);Henri VIII (1881-2);Proserpine (1886, rev. 1889);Ascanio (1887-8);Phryné (1892);Frédégonde (completion of opera by Giraud, 1894-5);Les Barbares (1900-1);Hélène (1903);L'ancêtre (1905);Déjanire (1919-20).

ORCH.:syms: No.1 in Eb (1853), No.2 in A minor (1859), No.3 in C minor, with org. (1886) (2 other syms., 2nd and 3rd in order of comp., 1852 and 1859, were withdrawn by the composer);sym.-poems: Le Rouet d'Omphale (1871-2);Phaëton (1873), Danse macabre (1874), La Jeunesse d'Hercule (1877);Marche héroïque (1871);Suite Algérienne (1880);Une Nuit à Lisbonne (1880);Jota Aragonesa (1880); Ouverture de fête (1910).

INSTR(S). & ORCH.:pf. concs.: No.1 in D (1858), No.2 in G minor (1868), No.3 in Eb (1869), No.4 in C minor (1875), No.5 in F (1896);vn. concs.: No.1 in A major (1859), No.2 in C (1858, pubd. 1879), No.3 in B minor (1880);vc. concs.: No.1 in A minor (1872), No.2 (1902);Miscellaneous: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, vn. (1863, pubd. 1870), Romance, vn. (1874), Morceau de Concert, vn. (1880), Caprice Andalou, vn. (1904);Allegro appassionato, pf. (1884);Rapsodie d'Auvergne, pf. (1884);Africa, fantasy, pf. (1891);Tarantelle, fl., cl. (1857);Romance, fl. or vn. (1871);Odelette, fl. (1920);Romance, hn. or vc. (1874);Carnaval des Animaux, 2 pf. and orch. (1886).

CHORUS & ORCH.:Mass (1856);Oratorio de Noël (1858);Les Noces de Prométhée (1867);Psalm 18 (1865);Le Déluge (1875);Requiem (1878);La Lyre et l'harpe (1879);Hymne à Victor Hugo (1881);Le Feu céleste (1900);Psalm 150 (1907);The Promised Land (1913);Hail, California (1915);Hymne à la Paix (1919).

CHAMBER MUSIC:str. qts. No.1 (1899), No.2 (1918);pf. quintet (1865);pf. trio No.1 in F (1863), No.2 in E minor (1892);pf. qt. (1875);Septet, pf., str., tpt. (1881);vn. sonata No.1 in D minor (1885), No.2 in Eb (1896);Wedding-Cake, caprice-valse, pf., str. (1886);Havanaise, vn., pf. (or orch.) (1887);vc. sonata No.1 (1872), No.2 (1905);Cavatina, ten. tb., pf. (1915);Elegy No.1, vn., pf. (1915), No.2 (1920);ob. sonata, cl. sonata, bn. sonata (1921).

PIANO: 6 Bagatelles (1855);6 Études (1877);6 Études (1899);6 Fugues (1920).

2 PIANOS:Variations on a Theme of Beethoven (1874);Polonaise (1886);Caprice Arabe (1884);Caprice héroïque (1898).

ORGAN:Bénédiction nuptiale (1859);3 Preludes and Fugues (1894);Marche réligieuse (1897);3 Fantaisies (1857, 1895, 1919).

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