SIR MICHAEL COSTA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 120, 1 May 1884, Page 2

SIR MICHAEL COSTA.

By to-days cablegrams is announced the death of Sir Michael Costa the eminent musical composer, aged 75. He was born in Naples in February, 1810, and early displayed a strong taste for music. He was placed by his parents under an efficient master. His progress was so rapid as to render advisable his admission into the Royal Academy of Music at Naples, and he ultimately became the pupil of Professor Tritto, then one of the most celebrated musical professors in Italy. His first original composition was a cantala composed for the Academy, entitled “L’lmmagine,” which had a most encouraging reception, and was followed by “ Il Delitto punito,” also successful. When his academical career was completed, he secured an engagement at one of the smaller Neapolitan theatres as composer and director of the orchestra. While holding this post, he produced his first opera, which kept possession of the stage during the whole of the season. His next attempt was “ Malvina,” for the Sau Carlo, a work which has been performed at the principal Italian theatres. In 1828 he visited England and assisted at the Birmingham Musical Festival of that year. In 1831 he assumed the Laton of conductor at her Majesty’s Theatre, in place of Signor Bochsa, and between 1831-3, produced three ballets, —

“ Kenilworth,” “ Une Heure a Naples,” and “ Sire Huon,” which were successful. 11l 1837 he produced his opera “Malek Adel,” for the Italian Opera at Paris, and it was afterwards played with success in London. Under Mr. Lumley’s management, ho in 1844 brought out his “ Don Carlos,” which has been considered his chef-d'auvre in the operatic line. In 1846 Signor Costa became conductor of the Philharmonic Concerts, and in 1847 conductor of the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden, withjwhich establishment he has thoroughly identified himself. His great work, the oratorio of “ Eli,” produced at the Birmingham Musical Festival of 1855, at once raised its author to a high rank among contemporaneous composers. Signor Costa received from a body of noblemen and gentlemen, presided over by Lord Willoughby de Broke, a massive piece of plate, as a testimonial of esteem and admiration. Under his direction several new operas have been produced at the Royal Italian Opera, with a completeness quite unparalleled. His oratorio entitled “ Naaman,” brought out at the Birmingham Mutual Festival for 1864, was a great success. He was knighted by the Queen at Windsor Castle, April 14, 1869. In May, 1869, the King of Wurtemberg conferred on him the Royal Order of Frederick, as a mark of the admiration entertained by hs Majesty of the oratorio of “ Eli,” performed under the composer’s direction at Stuttgard in the previous November,