He was interested in music and left Saint-Saëns 100,000 francs in his will[1] which enabled the composer to retire from his church post at La Madeleine in Paris and use his time for composition.

The most popular work by Saint-Saëns is Oratorio de Noël, written in 1858, but he also composed motets and psalm settings earlier and late in life, in keeping with liturgical demands.

[2] His biographer Jacques Bonnaure noted in his 2010 book: "This unjustly neglected Requiem is perhaps the most sensitive, imaginative, and perfect work by the composer, who finds here, more than ever before, a classical balance between form and expression, innovation and tradition, sophisticated compositional style and immediate effect.

Soloists included: Danielle Galland, Jeannine Collard, Francis Bardot, Jacques Villisech, and organist Micheline Lagache.

CD ADDA The Messe de Requiem was recorded, among other choral works by Saint-Saëns, by the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana and its choir, conducted by Diego Fasolis, with soloists Marie-Paule Dotti, Guillemette Laurens, Luca Lombardo and Nicolas Testé (2004).