Camille Saint-Saens
Camille Saint-Saens, (1835-1921). French composer. A child prodigy, he began to compose at the age of five and at 13 he became an organ scholar at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1857 he became organist of the Madeleine Church in Paris. A brilliant pianist, he composed five piano concertos as well as three symphonies and much chamber music. He is probably best remembered for the humorous Carnival of the Animals (1886), in which he parodies the works of various other composers.
