- Written in 1887, Saint-Saëns’ Havanaise was allegedly inspired by the sound of a crackling fire. The composer originally wrote the Cuban Habanera for violin and piano. However, convinced of its success from early on, his publisher requested an orchestral version as well.
- The habanera is a syncopated slow dance of Afro-Cuban origin and comes from Cuba’s capital, Havana (hence the name).
- Havanaise was dedicated to and premiered by Cuban violinist Rafael Díaz Albertini.1
Sources
- Christiane Strucken-Paland, “Preface: Havanaise op. 83,” G. Henle Verlag (2013), accessed April 14, 2026, https://www.henle.de/en/Havanaise-op.-83/HN-1037.
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