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Saint-Saëns
Paris, Frankreichclassical · romantic
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (9 October 1835 – 16 December 1921) was one of France's most important Romantic composers. Born in Paris, he displayed extraordinary musical talent from infancy: he had perfect pitch at age two, gave his first public piano performances at five, and made his official concert debut at ten. From 1857 he served for twenty years as organist at the Church of La Madeleine in Paris — Franz Liszt reportedly called him the world's greatest composer after hearing him improvise. Saint-Saëns is credited as the first French composer of symphonic poems; his best-known works include Le Carnaval des Animaux (1886), Danse macabre (1874), the opera Samson et Dalila (1877), and the Third (Organ) Symphony (1886). In 1871 he co-founded the Société Nationale de Musique to promote French composers. His output spans operas, symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and piano works. He died on 16 December 1921 in Algiers.
Saint-Saëns live in Mallorca
Friday, 11 September 2026
Frequently asked questions about Saint-Saëns
What musical style is Saint-Saëns associated with?
Saint-Saëns represents French late Romanticism, characterised by formal clarity, polished craftsmanship, and symphonic poems — a genre he was the first Frenchman to establish.
What are Saint-Saëns' most famous works?
His best-known works are Le Carnaval des Animaux (1886), Danse macabre (1874), the Organ Symphony No. 3 (1886), and the opera Samson et Dalila (1877).
In what context is Saint-Saëns performed at events?
His works are performed worldwide in classical concerts and opera houses; in Mallorca his repertoire features regularly at classical music festivals and chamber concerts.