COSTA, SIR MICHAEL:
Musical composer and conductor; born at Naples of a Sephardic family Feb. 4, 1810; died in Brighton April 29, 1884. He studied under his father, Pasquale Costa, his grandfather, Tritto Costa, and Zingarelli. In 1829 he visited England, assisting at the Birmingham musical festival, and conducting at Her Majesty's Theater in 1831. He was naturalized as a British subject in 1839. Subsequently he conducted at the Philharmonic Society concerts 1846, at the Royal Italian Opera 1847, for the Sacred Harmonic Society 1849, at the Handel festivals 1857, and at Her Majesty's Theater in 1871. Costa was knighted at Windsor April 14, 1868, and invested with the Royal Order of Frederick in 1869. He was also knight of the Turkish Order of the Medjidie, and knight commander of the Crown in Italy.
Costa's works include the operas and ballets "Il Delitto Punito," 1826; "Il Sospetto Funesto," 1827; "Il Carcere d'Ildegonda," 1828; "Malvina," 1829; "Malek Adhel," 1837; "Don Carlos," 1844; "Kenilworth," 1831; "Sir Huon," 1833; and "Alma," 1842; and the oratorios and cantatas: "L'Immagine," 1815; "La Passione," 1827; "Eli," 1855; and "Naaman," 1864. He also wrote many songs and miscellaneous compositions.
- Times, London, April 30, 1884;
- Grove, Dict. of Music and Musicians, s.v.
