«Romance in D Major, Op.51» was originally scored for cello and piano in 1877. In 1877, he was serving in his final year as organist at the Église de la Madeleine, where Liszt heard him and declared him, «the greatest organist in the world».

Saint-Saëns wrote many romances in his life; at least 10. Of these, three are written for horn (or cello). Op.51 is the only one written specifically for cello.