Portrait by Paul Helm
click on image for more info
Camille Saint-Saens was not only a composer but a pianist, organist, writer and teacher. Liszt called him the world's greatest organist. His compositions include all genres of music.
Born: Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns. October 9, 1835 in Paris, France Father: Jacques Joseph Victor Saint-Saens, died of TB when Camille was 2 months old. Government clerk. Mother: Clémence Françoise Collin, watercolour artist. Aunt: Madame Masson. Helped bring up Camille. Was his first piano teacher. Siblings: none Wife: 1875 he married 19-year-old Marie-Laure TruffotMarie Truffot. Marriage lasted 6 years only. Children: two sons André and Jean-François.They died in 1878 within six weeks of each other, one from an illness the other by falling from a fourth floor window. Died December 16, 1921 in Algiers, Algeria Cause of death: pneumonia Grave: Body returned to France for a state funeral. Buried in Montparnasse cemetery. See findagrave for a photo.
Works
Over 300 works, unusually in all genres, including - 13 operas (Samson Delilah the only one remembered) - 5 Symphonies (best known No3 the Organ symphony ) - 3 concertos for violin and orchestra - 5 concertos for piano and orchestra - 2 concertos for cello and orchestra - organ music - numerous pieces for the piano - approx 100 songs - chamber music - sacred music including a Requiem numerous transcriptions (Bach especially)
His most popular work is "Carnival of the Animals" the performance of which he forbade during his lifetime, except for "The Swan".
He was also a prolific writer and produced poems, a play, critical essays, and works on science, astronomy, travel and history.
2012 French Composers Calendar
Available now.
This calendar has 12 of my portraits, all of French composers, including Camille.
Also Berlioz, Bizet, Debussy, Faure, Gounod, Lully, Messiaen, Offenbach, Poulenc, Ravel and Satie.
- "There is nothing more difficult than talking about music."
- "The artist who does not feel completely satisfied by elegant lines, by harmonious colors, and by a beautiful succession of chords does not understand the art of music."
- "the closest France has come to producing another Mozart", Faure about Camille
- "If he'd been making shell-cases during the war it might have been better for music."-Maurice Ravel on Camille Saint-Saens
