The French pianist, conductor, and composer Charles Camille Saint-Saëns was born in Paris on October 9, 1835, and died in Algiers on December 16, 1921. His long life encompassed numerous social changes, culminating in the end of the First World War. His musical talent was evident from an exceptionally early age—he composed his first pieces at six and gave his first public concert at eleven in the Salle Pleyel in Paris. Many of his contemporaries considered him a new Mozart.
Saint-Saëns received his musical training at the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied piano, organ, and composition. He became a student there at the age of 16, having already composed his Symphony in A major at 15. In 1852, he took up the position of organist at Saint-Séverin in Paris and met Franz Liszt, who would profoundly influence his musical development. He made his debut as a composer in 1853 with the performance of his first symphony, followed by his second in 1857, which received positive reviews.
Saint-Saëns achieved particular renown for his "grand zoological fantasy," Carnival of the Animals, as well as the opera Samson and Delilah. Despite his multifaceted activities as a pianist, conductor, organist, musicologist, and music educator, he remained committed to the Romantic tradition. His works reflect both classical principles and innovative elements, making him one of the most important composers of his time.