Camille Saint-Saëns Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

“The Swan” from “The Carnival of the Animals”Camille Saint-Saëns15rank/position

Saint-Saëns The Swan, pianist Yuki Kondo / Saint-Saëns: The Swan (Le Cygne), Yuki Kondo

Saint-Saëns was a rare composer blessed with many talents.

“The Swan” is one of the pieces from The Carnival of the Animals, and its elegant atmosphere has made it widely beloved.

It is cherished in arrangements for various instruments, including piano solo, piano four-hands, cello, and violin.

Allegro appassionato, Op. 70Camille Saint-Saëns16rank/position

2008 Award Winner Commemoration - Ruka Yokoyama / Saint-Saëns: Allegro appassionato, Op. 70

A passionate piano piece by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.

Composed in 1884, this work begins in C-sharp minor and ends in C-sharp major, taking the form of a compound ternary structure, with a striking three-note motif of F♯–G♯–B♯ at the opening.

Its architecture, where a powerful main theme intersects with lyrical episodes, fully draws out the performer’s technique and expressive range.

Demanding advanced virtuosity, this dynamic piece is recommended not only for recitals but also for competitions and solo concerts.

Ave MariaCamille Saint-Saëns17rank/position

Ave Maria, Saint-Saens – Elena Egorova

Camille Saint-Saëns, one of France’s most celebrated composers, was known as a prodigy—said to have mastered the piano by the age of two and begun composing at three.

He was also an organist, and his works for keyboard instruments were highly esteemed even in his own time.

Among his renowned masterpieces is this “Ave Maria.” There are many versions of Ave Maria, but Saint-Saëns’s setting is crafted with a particularly otherworldly, dreamlike quality.

Rather than evoking sorrow, it is a piece that moves listeners to tears through its beauty.

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Auvergne Rhapsody in C major, Op. 73Camille Saint-Saëns18rank/position

Camille Saint-Saëns – Rhapsodie d’Auvergne, Op. 73 (1884)

Camille Saint-Saëns was a French composer active from the 19th to the 20th century.

From an early age he demonstrated musical talent and gained renown as a brilliant pianist and organist.

The Rhapsodie d’Auvergne in C major, Op.

73, is a work for piano and orchestra that he composed in 1884.

Based on a melody sung by a laundress and pastoral calls he heard in the mountainous Auvergne region, and written in a free form influenced by Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsodies, the piece vividly evokes picturesque scenes with striking color.

It is a work truly worthy of the name “rhapsody,” where the dazzling sonorities of the piano merge with the opulent sound of the orchestra.

Christmas OratorioCamille Saint-Saëns19rank/position

Camille Saint-Saëns – Christmas Oratorio – Op. 12 – Royal Opera Theater Orchestra

When people think of a “Christmas Oratorio,” many probably imagine Bach’s work.

If you’ve only ever listened to Bach’s, I encourage you to try this piece by Saint-Saëns as well.

Comprising ten movements, it balances a consistent unity with distinctive character in each.

Its overall atmosphere is dreamlike, making it a perfect fit for Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Be sure to give it a listen.

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Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33Camille Saint-Saëns20rank/position

Saint-Saëns: 1. Cellokonzert ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Gautier Capuçon ∙ Alain Altinoglu

Camille Saint-Saëns’s Cello Concerto No.

1 in A minor, Op.

33, which allows listeners to revel in the cello’s rich timbre, is a highly acclaimed work that has captivated many with its beauty and opened up new possibilities for French music.

The moment when the cello solo emerges from within the orchestra’s harmonies is especially exquisite, and the skillful transformation of the main theme invites a range of emotional imagery.

The seamlessly connected passages, flowing from one melody to the next, are ideal for experiencing the profound depth of the cello’s music.

Habanera Opening No. 83: AllegroCamille Saint-Saëns21rank/position

Havanaise, Op. 83

It is said that when Saint-Saëns set out on a concert tour with the violinist Albertini in 1885, he conceived this work in front of a brightly blazing fireplace at a hotel in Brest, where they were rained in during early winter.

After completing it, he dedicated the piece to Albertini as a memento of the trip.

Listeners can enjoy a folk-like melody in the habanera rhythm alongside virtuosic passages.

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