Mme Stern, née Hierschel, the wife of financier Louis Stern, kept a brilliant salon at 68 rue du Faubourg St. Honoré, almost opposite the Élysée Palace. Costa, born at Taranto, set popular songs in Neapolitan, French, and English to music, accompanying himself on the piano, besides writing the music for pantomimes and light comedies. From a small group of letters to her from Costa.