A child prodigy that was later hailed by Liszt as “the greatest organist in the world,” Camille Saint-Saënsled a fascinating life filled to the brim with music. We’ll explore his life, compositions, and influence in this five-part series.
Saint-Saëns, Camille (1835-1921)
Playlist
Episode 1
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Op. 6 Bagatelles (excerpts)
Ian Hobson, piano
Le Carnaval des Animaux; Septet; Allegro Appassionato; Bagatelles
Arab 6570
2:10; :51; :59
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Symphony in A, I. III.
ORTF National Orchestra/Martinon
Les 5 Symphonies
EMI 62643
10:15
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Symphony No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 2, IV.
ORTF National Orchestra/Martinon
Les 5 Symphonies
EMI 62643
7:30
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Quintet for Piano and Strings, Op. 14, III/
Ensemble Musique Oblique
Instrumental Works
Harmonia Mundi HMA1951472
5:06
Schubert, Franz: “Gretchen am Spinnrade” D. 118 (excerpt)
Richard Goode, piano; Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Goethe-Lieder
Nonesuch 79317
:15
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Le Rouet d’Omphale, Op. 31
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Munch
The French Touch
RCA 78978
7:35
Saint-Saëns, Camille: “Extase”
Jean-Phillipe Collard, piano; José Van Dam, bass Baritone
Mélodies françaises, Vol. II
EMI 7243 5 73314 2 5
3:16
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Charles Dutoit; Chung, violin
Danse Macabre
London 425021
9:12
Episode 2
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Tarantelle For Flute, Clarinet And Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Geoffrey Simon
Volume One
CACD 1015
5:44
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22,(excerpts), I
Royal Concergebouw Orchestra/Neeme Järvi; Davidovich, piano
Piano Concerto No. 2 / Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini
Phil 410 052
2:45; 2:19; 12:31
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33
London Symphony Orchestra/Antal Doráti; János Starker, violoncello
Cello Concerto In D Minor / Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op. 33
Mercury 432 010
18:38
Saint-Saëns, Camille: “Danse Macabre”
Jean-Philippe Collard, piano; José Van Dam, bass baritone
Mélodies françaises, Vol. II
EMI 7243 5 73314 2 5
2:11
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Danse Macabre
National Philharmonic Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski; Sidney Sax, violin
Stokowski Showcase
EMI 64140
7:12
Episode 3
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Henry VIII Ouverture (excerpts)
Orchestre Lyrique Français/Guingal
Henry VIII
Chant du Monde 1083/85
1:46; 2:52
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Samson et Dalila (excerpts)
London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus/Colin Davis;
José Cura, tenor; Olga Borodina, mezzo soprano
Samson & Dalila
Erato 24756
3:26; 6:19; 6:25; 6:36
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Henry VIII
“Donce Le Pape Est Hostile…” (excerpts)
Orchestre Lyrique Français/Guingal; Rouillon & Laiter, vocals
Henry VIII
Chant du Monde 1083/85
1:46; 2:52
Henry the VIII: “I Am” (excerpt)
Herman’s Hermits
The Best Of Herman’s Hermits
MGM Records E4315
:40
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Messe de Requiem, I. II.
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Simon
Volume One
Cala CACD1015
13:24
Episode 4
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Morceau De Concert in F Minor, Op. 94
Allegro; Allegro Non Troppo
Leipzig Gewandhaus/Kurt Masur; Baumann, horn
Horn Concerto
Philips 416380
8:38
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Carnival of The Animals
Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy;
Claude Frank & Lillian Kallir, pianos
Peter And The Wolf / The Young Person’s Guide To The Orchestra / Carnival Of The Animals
Sony 62638
20:23; 1:20
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, op. 61,I & II
New York Philharmonic/Dimitri Mitropoulos; Francescati, violin
Great Violin Concertos
Sony Masterworks Heritage 62339
15:32
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Romance in F, Op. 36
Steven Isserlis, violoncello; Francis Grier, piano
Cello Concerto No. 1 • Sonata No. 1 • Romances
RCA 61678
2:50
Episode 5
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Piano Concerto No. 4, IV
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Bernstein; R. Casadesus, piano
Concerto No. 4 For Piano And Orchestra / Ballade For Piano And Orchestra / Three Preludes
RCA 6377
7:35
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Symphony No.3 in C Minor, Op. 78, Organ
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/James Levine; Preston, organ
Symphony No.3 “Organ” / L’Apprenti Sorcier
DG 419617
36:04
Saint-Saëns, Camille: “Le Rossignol et la Rose”
Berlin Symphony Orchestra/Michael Schonwandt; Dessay, soprano
Camille Saint-Saëns Edition
Warner Classics 0190296746048
3:43
