Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor, and pianist, considered one of the greatest of his era. A child prodigy, he made his concert debut at the age of ten and excelled in nearly every musical genre. Saint-Saëns' prodigious talents and comprehensive education gave him a formidable intellectual and technical mastery over music, a factor that influenced his compositions. His long and prolific career spanned the Romantic period, and his works were characterized by a classical clarity and order, blending new ideas with the traditional.

Saint-Saëns composed a wide array of music, including symphonies, concertos, opera, chamber music, and solo piano pieces, leaving a rich legacy that has stood the test of time. His best-known works include "The Carnival of the Animals," a humorous musical suite of fourteen movements, each representing a different animal or characters; "Danse Macabre," a tone poem exploring the theme of death, and "Samson et Dalila," an opera that remains a staple of the repertoire. His musical style combined a keen sense of drama, virtuosic piano parts, and a penchant for the exotic and innovative, which set the stage for future developments in French music. Saint-Saëns remained active in the musical world until the end of his life, and he was an influential figure who helped shape the direction of French music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Genres

Classical

French Romanticism

Late Romantic Era

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Latest Release

Coda: Piano Works

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Camille Saint-Saëns

Album - 94 Tracks - Released September 17, 2024