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Tony Pappano at the unveiling of the plaque in Ecclestone Square |
Plaque commemorates Sir Michael Costa
A BLUE plaque was unveiled yesterday to commemorate Sir Michael Costa, the great Victorian orchestral reformer and conductor.
The ceremony at the late composer’s house in Eccleston Square, Victoria, was performed by Tony Pappano, Musical Director of the Royal Opera House. He said: “Not only is it a great privilege to be unveiling this plaque, but it is a great honour personally to be following in (Costa’s) footsteps.”
Mr. Papano was joined by Professor David Cannadine, Chairman of English Heritage, and the Italian Ambassador Giancarlo Aragona, who said he was was delighted to celebrate the musician, who was Italian by birth. The elegantly-dressed Aragona said: “He combined the best of English and Italian culture, history and civilisation.”
Sir Michael Costa is celebrated for his achievements in conducting – he was the first to use the baton – and in reforming the British operatic scene from its slump during the early nineteenth century, when Britain was known as the ‘Land without music’.
But his forays into composing were less well-received. Rossini once wrote “Costa has sent me an oratorio and a stilton. The stilton was very good.” |
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