"Saint-Saëns" redirects here. For the commune in Haute-Normandie, see Saint-Saëns, Seine-Maritime Charles Camille Saint-Saëns () (9 October 1835 – 16 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor, and pianist, known especially for his big orchestral works The Carnival of the Animals, Danse Macabre, Samson et Dalila, and Symphony No. 3 . Early years Saint-Saëns was born in Paris, France; his father was a Government clerk who died three months after his son's birth. His mother, Clemence, sought the assistance of her aunt, Charlotte Masson, who moved in and introduced Saint-Saëns to the piano. One of the most talented child prodigies of his time, he possessed perfect pitch and began piano lessons with his great-aunt at two years old. He almost immediately began composing; his first composition was a little piece for the piano dated 22 March 1839. This piece is now kept in the

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