WHO exactly was Madame A de Villers? 

Historians can’t say for sure — but whoever she was, she must have made quite an impression on French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. 

His Piano Concerto No. 2, dedicated to this mysterious woman, begins like a solemn prayer and ends in a dazzling carnival — a transformation that has intrigued audiences and performers for more than 150 years.

That emotional journey will take centre stage this weekend as the Fremantle Chamber Orchestra performs Saint-Saëns’ celebrated concerto alongside Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 and Arvo Pärt’s haunting Da Pacem Domine. The concerts will be held Sunday November 1 at the Fremantle Town Hall and Sunday November 2 at the Government House Ballroom, both starting at 3pm.

The concerto, which Saint-Saëns supposedly composed in just 17 days, begins with a dramatic piano solo — like a priest at the altar — before breaking into a fiery dance that sounds almost improvised. It’s technically ferocious, but also full of charm and wit, much like the composer himself.

“Saint-Saëns loved to surprise people,” says FCO director Hans Hug.

“This piece starts in Bach’s church and ends in a Parisian salon. It’s virtuosic, cheeky and completely irresistible.”

Soloist for the performances, James Dekleva, is no stranger to the piece’s challenges. 

A classically trained pianist with a flair for expressive performance, Dekleva says he’s always been fascinated by the concerto’s sense of progression. 

“The opening feels deeply reflective,” he says. 

“Saint-Saëns gives the impression of improvising, yet every detail is perfectly crafted. 

“Each movement builds in energy until the finale blazes with brilliance and restless energy.”

Balancing that exuberance is the program’s opening work, Da Pacem Domine (Give Peace, O Lord), written by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt in response to the 2004 Madrid bombings. Its serene harmonies unfold like a slowly turning prayer wheel — a perfect counterpoint to the energy of Saint-Saëns and Mozart.

“Pärt reminds us that music doesn’t always need to rush,” says Hug. “After everything going on in the world, his stillness feels almost radical.”

The concert opens with Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor, one of only two he wrote in a minor key and one of his most emotionally charged works. It’s often described as Mozart’s most “Romantic” symphony — intense, restless and deeply human.

For the Fremantle Chamber Orchestra, pairing these three pieces is about contrast and connection. “They all deal with emotion in very different ways,” says Hug. “Pärt seeks peace, Mozart wrestles with passion, and Saint-Saëns turns turmoil into brilliance. It’s a journey through the human spirit.”

As for Madame A de Villers? Some believe she was a patron, others a student or perhaps a secret muse. Saint-Saëns never said — and maybe that’s the point. Like the music itself, her identity invites us to imagine.

The Fremantle Chamber Orchestra performs Sunday November 1 at the Fremantle Town Hall and Sunday November 2 at the Government House Ballroom, both at 3pm. Tickets via www.fremantlechamberorchestra.com