Camille Saint-Saëns

France, 1846–1921

French composer and organist (1835-1921). The Organ Symphony, the opera Samson et Dalila and The Carnival of the Animals are written in a formally conservative but technically assured idiom.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Camille Saint-Saëns and 1 artist Camille Saint-Saëns influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Camille Saint-Saëns?

• Franz Liszt — Liszt championed Saint-Saëns, premiered his Samson et Dalila in Weimar, and his symphonic poem form was Saint-Saëns's model; the Organ Symphony is dedicated to Liszt's memory.
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Saint-Saëns was a Mozart prodigy from childhood — he offered to play any of the concertos from memory at his debut aged ten — and held Mozart as the ideal of clarity.

Which artists did Camille Saint-Saëns influence?

• Gabriel Fauré — Saint-Saëns was Fauré's teacher at the École Niedermeyer and lifelong mentor — he introduced him to contemporary music and secured his early posts.