A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Carafa, Michele
CARAFA, Michele, born at Naples Nov. 28, 1785 [App. p.579 "Nov. 17, 1787"]; studied under Fazzi, Fenaroli, and Ruggi, and in Paris under Cherubini. His first opera was 'Il Fantasma.' So little however did Carafa feel his vocation that he entered the army, and became an officer in the bodyguard of Murat, then king of Naples. Like Henri Beyle (Stendhal) he made the campaign of Russia in 1812, and was decorated by Napoleon. After the Emperor's fall he left the army and embraced music as his profession. His first opera, 'Il vascello di occidente,' was produced at Naples in 1814, and was followed by a large number of others. 'Gabriele' (1818), 'Ifigenia,' 'Berenice,' etc., etc., were produced in Italy, but he was equally successful in Vienna and in Paris. In the latter city he made his début with 'Le Solitaire,' Aug. 17, 1822, which long remained extraordinarily popular. In 27 he took up his residence in Paris, and brought out 'La Violette,' [App. p.579 adds "Oct. 1828"] 'La fiancée de Lammermoor,' 'Masaniello' (Dec. 27, 1827, evidently written in competition with Auber's 'Muette,' Feb. 29, 1828), 'La prison d'Edimbourg,' etc. These operas, and many others, were very popular, notwithstanding the immense counter attractions of Auber and Rossini. This they owe more to an easy flow of melody and natural unaffected instrumentation than to any original character, and in consequence they have now fallen into oblivion. As a composer for the pianoforte Carafa was almost equally the fashion, and at Cherubini's instance he was made Professor of Composition in the Conservatoire shortly after his arrival in Paris, a post which he was still filling in 1876 [App. p.579 to "where he died, July 26, 1872"]. In 1837 he was elected a member of the Académie des beaux arts.
The 'Dictionnaire lyrique' of M. Felix Clement mentions no less than 35 of his operas.[ G. ]