Constanze von Ruttenstein

Constanze Therese Adelaide Geiger, Freifrau von Ruttenstein (16 October 1835 – 24 August 1890) was an Austrian pianist, theatrical actress, composer and singer.

Biography Geiger was the daughter of the composer and the court hat-maker/modist Theresia Geiger (née Ržiha, 1804–1865). Her parents nurtured her musical talents, and her father was her first piano teacher. She continued piano lessons with Johann Wenzel Tomaschek as well as Simon Sechter. Sechter gave her lessons in composition and counterpoint as well.

Geiger made her public debut as a concert pianist at age six. She played her own compositions in public first at age eight. She made her theatrical stage debut in 1852 at the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Städtische Theater, Geiger is the first female composer ever to be featured in the Vienna Philharmonic's Neujahrskonzert.

Selected compositions Source: 4 Valses, op. 3 (1845) Preghiera Ave Maria (1846) Duettino (for tenor and bass) Frühlings-Träume Walzer, op. 8 (1847) Abschieds-Walzer, op. 9 (1848) Ferdinandus-Walzer (1848) Das Fuchslied als Trauermarsch (1849) Radetzky Marsch, op. 14, no. 1 Sehnsucht (Romanze), op. 15 (1850) Carlsklänge (Walzer) Franz Joseph-Marsch, op. 19 (1852) Ein Volkswalzer, op. 22a Nandl-Polka, op. 22b (1852) Elisabethen-Vermählungsmarsch (1854) Lanckoronsky-Marsch, op. 24 Chinesen-Polka, op. 26 Unbefriedigte Sehnsucht (Nocturne), op. 27 (1856) Herzklopfer-Walzer, op. 29 (1856) 'Kennst du meine Leiden?' (Nocturne), op. 30 (1856) 3 Nocturnes (1859) Kaiser-Einzugs-Marsch (1862) Offertorium (1873)