Phaéton (Saint-Saëns)

Phaéton
by Camille Saint-Saëns
Saint-Saëns circa 1875
EnglishPhaethon
KeyC Major
CatalogueR170
Opus39
PeriodRomanticism
GenreSymphonic Poem
Composed1873 (1873)
DedicationMadame Berthe Pochet
Published1875 (1875)
PublisherÉditions Durand-Schönewerk & Cie
Duration8-10 minutes
Movements1
ScoringSymphony Orchestra
Premiere
DateDecember 7, 1873 (1873-12-07)
LocationThéâtre du Châtelet, Paris
ConductorÉdouard Colonne
PerformersConcert National

Phaéton (Phaethon), Op. 39, is a symphonic poem for orchestra, composed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1873. It is the second in his genre's tetralogy, preceded by Le Rouet d'Omphale and followed by Danse macabre and La jeunesse d'Hercule. The work was premiered at the Théâtre du Châtelet in 7 December 1873, performed by the Concert National conducted by Édouard Colonne. Despite its initial cool reception, the work has managed to remain in the borders of the repertoire, but is largely overshadowed in popularity by Danse Macabre.