Saint-Saëns composed five symphonies in total, including the notable Symphony No. 3 in C minor with organ.
Performer Biography
Olivier Latry, the organist on this recording, was named titular organist of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris at the young age of 23.
Composition History
Saint-Saëns's Symphony No. 3, known as the 'Organ Symphony', was commissioned by the Philharmonic Society of London and dedicated to the memory of Franz Liszt.
Compositional Technique
The 'Organ Symphony' (Symphony No. 3) features a cyclical theme based on the Gregorian chant 'Dies Irae', which is skilfully varied throughout the work.
Composer Biography
Camille Saint-Saëns was a piano prodigy, entering the Paris Conservatoire's composition class at just 13 years old.
Composition History
The Symphony in F 'Urbs Roma' was composed between 1854 and 1857 as a tribute to Rome's glorious past, but was never published during Saint-Saëns's lifetime.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Saint-Saëns played a crucial role in establishing the symphony genre in France, which had previously been dominated by the Germanic musical tradition.
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