Africa (Saint-Saëns)
| Africa | |
|---|---|
| Fantasia by Camille Saint-Saëns | |
Cover of first edition | |
| Key | G minor |
| Opus | 89 |
| Composed | 1891 |
| Dedication | Marie-Aimée Roger-Miclos |
| Published |
|
| Scoring | Piano and orchestra |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 25 October 1891 |
| Location | Paris |
| Performers | |
Africa, Op. 89, is a fantasia for piano and orchestra by Camille Saint-Saëns. Composed in 1891 during a stay in Egypt, this concertante piece is marked by its mosaic-like structure and interplay of various themes, blending African musical elements with European compositional techniques.
Written during a period of personal grief following his mother's death, Saint-Saëns dedicated Africa to the pianist Marie-Aimée Roger-Miclos, to whom he had pledged a new composition. The work is held in a single movement and calls for outstanding technical virtuosity, agility, and a certain lightness of touch from the soloist, also reflecting Saint-Saëns's own formidable pianistic skill.
The premiere on 25 October 1891 was met with great acclaim, and subsequent performances took place around the globe, Saint-Saëns even considering it a signature work.