Gilda Ruta

Gilda Ruta (1856–1932) was an Italian pianist, music educator and composer.

Biography

Countess Gilda Ruta Cagnazzi was born in Naples and studied music with her father and with the opera composer Saverio Mercadante. She became a noted pianist,[1] played before Queen Margherita of Italy at the Constanzi Theater in Rome (now Teatro dell'Opera di Roma) and won a gold medal at the International Exposition in Florence. After being widowed at age of 27 with two children, she began composing. She moved to New York City, taught private piano lessons in Greenwich Village, and died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Manhattan at age 79.[2]

Works

Ruta produced more than 125 works for piano and orchestra, and also composed for opera.[3]

Selected works include:

References

  1. ^ Elson, Authur (Digitized online by GoogleBooks). Woman's Work in Music. http://books.google.com/books?id=8xng-rbJBEwC&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=Gilda+Ruta&source=bl&ots=h2aON3L2VA&sig=Jzja5mcy3xk6oVfs51AEY4X7XMI&hl=en&ei=NuzMTN6zBoOclgfyyNHnCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBQQ6AEwATgU#v=onepage&q=Gilda%20Ruta&f=false. Retrieved 30 October 2010. 
  2. ^ "Milestones, Nov. 7, 1932". Time. 7 November 1932. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,744684-2,00.html. Retrieved 30 October 2010. 
  3. ^ Elson, Arthur (July, 1909). "Famous Women in Musical History". The Etude. http://scriabin.com/etude/1909/07/famous-women-in-musical-history.html. Retrieved 30 October 2010.