Michael Costa (1808-1884)
Print
ca.1840 (published)
ca.1840 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Born in Naples in 1808, Michele Andrea Agnielle Costa studied music in Naples and settled in London in 1830 where he worked at His Majesty's Theatre. Costa exerted real influence for change as a conductor at Her Majesty's and, later, at Covent Garden theatre, to which he seceded in 1847 after disagreements with the manager of Her Majesty's, Benjamin Lumley. His concern for orchestral discipline, accuracy, and ensemble was a novelty at the time and earned him the admiration both of Meyerbeer and Verdi.
He was a prolific composer of works including the ballets Kenilworth (1831), Une Heure à Naples (1832), Sir Huon (composed for Taglioni) in 1833 and the ballet Alma (1844, later revived as La fille du marbre) He became a naturalized Englishman and received a knighthood in 1869. He died in Hove in 1884 and was buried at Kensal Green cemetary.
He was a prolific composer of works including the ballets Kenilworth (1831), Une Heure à Naples (1832), Sir Huon (composed for Taglioni) in 1833 and the ballet Alma (1844, later revived as La fille du marbre) He became a naturalized Englishman and received a knighthood in 1869. He died in Hove in 1884 and was buried at Kensal Green cemetary.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Michael Costa (1808-1884) (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | mezzotint |
| Brief description | Portrait of the conductor Michael Costa, Esq.(1808-1884) accompanied by a facsimile signature, ca.1840. Harry Beard Collection |
| Physical description | Mezzotint portrait of Michael Costa, Esq. accompanied by a facsimile signature. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Born in Naples in 1808, Michele Andrea Agnielle Costa studied music in Naples and settled in London in 1830 where he worked at His Majesty's Theatre. Costa exerted real influence for change as a conductor at Her Majesty's and, later, at Covent Garden theatre, to which he seceded in 1847 after disagreements with the manager of Her Majesty's, Benjamin Lumley. His concern for orchestral discipline, accuracy, and ensemble was a novelty at the time and earned him the admiration both of Meyerbeer and Verdi. He was a prolific composer of works including the ballets Kenilworth (1831), Une Heure à Naples (1832), Sir Huon (composed for Taglioni) in 1833 and the ballet Alma (1844, later revived as La fille du marbre) He became a naturalized Englishman and received a knighthood in 1869. He died in Hove in 1884 and was buried at Kensal Green cemetary. |
| Other number | F.102-49 - H Beard collection numbering |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.4345-2009 |
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| Record created | April 14, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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