Delfina de la Cruz

Delfina de la Cruz Zañartu (24 February 1837 – 8 May 1905), also known as Delfina Pérez, was a Chilean pianist, composer and First Lady of Chile during 1876 to 1881. De la Cruz was the first female composer of choral music in Chile. De la Cruz was the paternal granddaughter of Luis de la Cruz, and the cousin of Manuel Bulnes. On 24 November 1855 De la Cruz married Aníbal Pinto, a lawyer, politician and future 9th President of Chile. Through marriage De la Cruz was related to two other First Ladies of Chile, her sister-in-law of Enriqueta Pinto, and her mother-in-law of Luisa Garmendia. Career De la Cruz was an accomplished pianist and composer. Under the pseudonym Delfina Perez, de la Cruz published 12 works throughout the 19th century, surpassed in volume only by Isidora Zegers. Her work was praised by local press in Valparaíso and Santiago, where she sometimes performed benefit concerts. Several of her pieces also attained international recognition, including “The Star of Night” (""), a polka for piano which was played in Paris, as well as “Armando the Gondolier” (""), a waltz for piano later performed in Germany. She is also the first Chilean woman to venture into the compositio