Charles Camille Saint-Saëns
Born: 9th October 1835, Paris
Died: 16th December 1921, Algiers
Nationality: French
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (UK: , US: , French: [ʃaʁl kamij sɛ̃sɑ̃(s)] 9 October 1835 – 16 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic era. His best-known works include Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863), the Second Piano Concerto (1868), the First Cello Concerto (1872), Danse macabre (1874), the opera Samson and Delilah (1877), the Third Violin Concerto (1880), the Third ("Organ") Symphony (1886) and The Carnival of the Animals (1886).
Saint-Saëns was a musical prodigy; he made his concert debut at the age of ten. After studying at the Paris Conservatoire he followed a conventional career as a church organist, first at Saint-Merri, Paris and, from 1858, La Madeleine, the official church of the French Empire. After leaving the post twenty years later, he was a successful freelance pianist and composer, in demand in Europe and the Americas.
Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_Saint-Saëns
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Further Reading: Saint-Saëns
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French orchestral favourites from John Wilson and Sinfonia of London
1st May 2026
A beautifully chosen and vividly performed collection of popular French pieces including Dukas's L'Apprenti sorcier, Saint-Saëns’s Danse macabre, suites from Bizet's Carmen, and Wilson's own orchestral transcription of Debussy's Clair de lune.
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Pascal Rogé at 75
7th Apr 2026
The French pianist celebrates his 75th birthday this week, with a new album of Fauré and a career-spanning box set, both on Decca – the label to which he first signed at the age of eighteen. We look back on the career of a master of musical architecture who communicates affection without affectation.
Popular Genres: Saint-Saëns
Orchestral
Chamber
Instrumental
Opera
Concertos
Popular Works: Saint-Saëns
- Africa - Fantasie for piano & orchestra Op. 89 (23)
- Allegro Appassionato in B minor Op. 43 (63)
- Bassoon Sonata in G major, Op. 168 (36)
- Benediction Nuptiale in F major, Op. 9 (24)
- Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 33 (187)
- Cello Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 119 (28)
- Cello Sonata No. 1 in C minor Op. 32 (36)
- Clarinet Sonata in E flat major, Op. 167 (54)
- Danse macabre, Op. 40 (282)
- Etude en forme de valse (No. 6 from Six Études, Op. 52) (27)
- Fantaisie for violin & harp, Op. 124 (33)
- Fantaisie No. 1 for organ in E flat major (27)
- Havanaise, Op. 83 (121)
- Introduction & Rondo capriccioso, Op. 28 (246)
- La Muse et le Poète, Op. 132 (24)
- Le carnaval des animaux (164)
- Le carnaval des animaux: Le Cygne (369)
- Le Rouet d'Omphale, Op. 31 (68)
- Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix (from Samson et Dalila) (81)
- Oboe Sonata in D major Op. 166 (31)
- Oratorio de Noël (Christmas Oratorio), Op. 12 (26)
- Phaéton, Op. 39 (28)
- Piano Concerto No. 1 in D major Op. 17 (32)
- Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 (108)
- Piano Concerto No. 3 in E-flat major Op. 29 (28)
- Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor, Op. 44 (59)
- Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major, Op. 103 'Egyptian' (56)
- Preludes and Fugues (3), Op. 99 (25)
- Prière for cello & piano, Op. 158 (24)
- Printemps qui commence (from Samson et Dalila) (23)
- Romance in D flat major, Op. 37 (47)
- Romance, Op. 36 (52)
- Samson et Dalila (24)
- Samson et Dalila, Op. 47: Bacchanale (50)
- Suite algérienne, Op. 60 (34)
- Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78 'Organ Symphony' (168)
- Tarantelle in A minor, Op. 6 (25)
- Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61 (76)
- Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75 (55)
- Wedding Cake - Valse-Caprice, Op. 76 (30)
Recent Best Sellers: Saint-Saëns
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Special offer. Saint-Saëns - Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2
Christian Poltéra (cello) & Kathryn Stott (piano)
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Gramophone Magazine, January 2010, Editor's Choice
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Presto Favourites, Recommended Recording
Presto CD: Original price $16.75 Reduced $13.40Download from $7.00 -
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Special offer. Escales | French Orchestral Works
Sinfonia of London, John Wilson
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Gramophone Magazine, February 2020, Recording of the Month
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BBC Music Magazine, April 2020, Orchestral Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2020
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Gramophone Magazine, Critics' Choice 2020
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The Times Records of the Year, 2020
SACD: Original price $20.00 Reduced $16.60Download from $7.00 -
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Special offer. French Orchestral Favourites
Sinfonia of London, John Wilson
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Presto Recording of the Week, 1st May 2026
SACD: Original price $20.00 Reduced $16.60Download from $8.00 -
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New. Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5 ‘the Egyptian’
Simon Trpčeski (piano), Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Thomas Søndergård
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BBC Music Magazine, October 2026, Concerto Choice
CD: $20.25Download from $9.25 -
New Releases: Saint-Saëns
View all new releases-
New. Mémoire
Alexandre Tharaud (piano)
CD: Original price $17.50 Reduced $16.27Download from $10.00 -
New. Saint-Saens & Lalo: Cello Concertos
Sol Gabetta (violoncello), Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth
CD: $18.25Download from $10.00 -
New. Je chante la nuit
Agathe Peyrat (soprano, ukelele), Pierre Cussac (accordion, voice)
CD: Original price $20.25 Reduced $18.22Download from $9.25 -
New. Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5 ‘the Egyptian’
Simon Trpčeski (piano), Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Thomas Søndergård
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BBC Music Magazine, October 2026, Concerto Choice
CD: $20.25Download from $9.25 -
Future Releases: Saint-Saëns
View all future releases-
Coming soon. The Pyramids Recital
Fatma Said (soprano), Thibaut Maudry (violin), Hani El Sawaf (darbouka drums), Mohamed Ahmed (ney flute), Mohamed El Said (oud lute), Les Frivolités parisiennes, Sammy El Ghadab
CD: Original price $17.50 Reduced $15.75Download from $10.00 -
Coming soon. Hope in Shadow
Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello), London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner
CD: Original price $16.25 Reduced $14.95 -
Coming soon. Hope in Shadow
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner
2 Vinyl Records: Original price $46.75 Reduced $43.47 -
Coming soon. Uyaras - The Enchanted Voice
Bruno de Sá (soprano), Opéra Orchestre Normandie Rouen, Comunicantus Choir, Pierre Dumoussaud
CD: $17.50
