Camille Saint-Saëns: Iconic Composer Portrait, 2015

This photograph features Camille Saint-Saëns, a prominent French composer, pianist, and organist, on May 12, 2015. Although the date might seem misleading, this image was preserved as part of the George Grantham Bain Collection, which highlights significant figures and events from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Saint-Saëns is best known for his contributions to orchestral and operatic music, including the beloved Carnival of the Animals and the opera Samson and Delilah. He was a key figure in the transition from Romanticism to more modern musical styles.

Born in 1835, Saint-Saëns began his musical education at an early age and quickly became an influential voice in European music. He toured extensively, introducing his works to audiences around the world. His mastery of the piano and organ was legendary, and he was among the first composers to embrace technology in music, demonstrating a forward-thinking attitude that resonated in his compositions. This image encapsulates not just a moment in time but the essence of a man who played a crucial role in shaping the landscape of classical music.