- Mar 9 Carl Nikolais opera "Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor" premieres
- Apr 16 Giacomo Meyerbeer's opera "Le prophète" premieres in Paris
- May 10 Astor Place Riot: Backers of American actor and working class hero Edwin Forrest attempt to disrupt British actor William McReady's performance at Astor Place Opera House in NYC; Military troops supporting police shoot at the crowd, killing between 22 and 31 [1]
- Jun 22 Stephen C. Massett opens concert at San Francisco courthouse using only piano in California
Schubert's Symphony No. 4
Nov 19 Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 4, "The Tragic", premieres in Leipzig, more than 20 years after the composer's death
Luisa Miller
Dec 8 Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Luisa Miller" premieres in Naples
- Dec 14 1st chamber music group in US gives their 1st concert in Boston