Gilda Ruta (13 October 1853 – 26 October 1932) was an

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

pianist, music educator and composer.

Biography

Countess Gilda Ruta Cagnazzi was born in

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, the daughter of composer Michele Ruta and English singer Emilia Sutton. She studied music with her father and with the opera composer

Saverio Mercadante Giuseppe Saverio Raffaele Mercadante (baptised 17 September 179517 December 1870) was an Italian composer, particularly of operas. While Mercadante may not have retained the international celebrity of Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti or Gioa ...

and became a noted pianist. She played before

Queen Margherita Margherita of Savoy (''Margherita Maria Teresa Giovanna''; 20 November 1851 – 4 January 1926) was Queen of Italy by marriage to her first cousin King Umberto I of Italy. She was the daughter of Prince Ferdinando of Savoy, Duke of Genoa and ...

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at the Constanzi Theater in Rome (now

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) and won a gold medal at the International Exposition in

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. After being widowed at age of 27 with two children, she began composing. She moved to

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, taught private piano lessons in

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, and died of a cerebral hemorrhage in

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at age 79.

Works

Ruta produced more than 125 works for voice and piano, and also composed for opera. Selected works include: *''Scherzo'' for pianoforte *''Voglio guarire'', melodia romantica *''Tempo di Gavotta e Musette'' for pianoforte *''Canto melanconico'' for contralto and basso *''La Gavotta'' per pianoforte *''Partirai!!'' canto for mezzo-sop and baritono *''Alle stelle'' melodia romantica *''Canzone marinaresca'' for soprano *''Allegro appassionato'' for pianoforte *''Per te!'' canto *''Dolci memorie!'' melodia *''Dammi un' ora d'amor!'' melodia romantica *''The Fire-Worshippers'' opera *''Cuore su Cuore'' valzer *''Siciliana'' for pianoforte

References

Italian women classical composers Italian opera composers 1856 births 1932 deaths Women opera composers Italian emigrants to the United States Italian people of English descent 19th-century Italian classical pianists 20th-century Italian classical pianists 19th-century Italian classical composers 20th-century Italian classical composers Italian women classical pianists 20th-century Italian women composers 19th-century Italian women composers 19th-century women pianists 20th-century Italian women pianists {{Italy-composer-stub