Havanaise op. 83

It is said that Saint-Saëns was moved to write the main theme of his Havanaise by the crackling open fire at a hotel, while on tour in autumn 1885 with its subsequent dedicatee Rafael Diaz Albertini.

We do not know whether, when writing the composition two years later, the Habanera (French Havanaise) with its typical two beat dance rhythms was an allusion to the Cuban origin of his violinist friend.

At any rate, the composition was extremely well received from the very beginning both in its original form as well as in the orchestral version. Ingolf Turban kindly provided the bowings for the virtuoso violin part.