The sonata was dedicated to Jules Griset, a long-time friend of the composer, and was first performed privately by cellist Joseph Hollmann and Saint-Saëns himself before receiving its public premiere by Auguste Tolbecque and Aline Riffaud.
The third movement, a lyrical Romanza, focuses on the cello's expressive qualities, and the finale, Allegro non troppo grazioso, concludes the work with a graceful and playful dialogue between the instruments.
Camille Saint-Saëns composed the sonata in March 1905 while staying in Biskra, Algeria, where he found ideal working conditions due to the quietness and mild weather.
I am in the finale which constitutes the fourth paw of the quadruped; the second is a Scherzo con Variazioni, the third a Romanza that will make the cellists happy."
"[1] The sonata was first performed privately on April 13, 1905, at the home of Albert Blondel, the director of the Érard piano factory, by cellist Joseph Hollmann and the composer himself.
Saint-Saëns, undeterred by the predicament, offered to rewrite the entire sonata, and spent part of the night and the following day on the task, and the performance took place as scheduled.
Saint-Saëns reflected that the unfortunate incident had a positive outcome, as the new copy, although created under time pressure, turned out to be superior to the original.
[2] The public premiere was given by Auguste Tolbecque and pianist Aline Riffaud on October 27, 1905, in Niort, before the dedicatee, Jules Griset, performed it with Saint-Saëns in Paris on November 7.
Griset was a long-time friend of Saint-Saëns who owned a private theatre and occasionally played the piano accompaniment at the musical society La Trompette.