1855. Dec. 8. An American oratorio, "The Cities of the Plain," by F. T. S. Darley, produced by the Harmonia Sacred Music Society in Philadelphia.
1855-1863. Philharmonic Society, Boston, Carl Zerrahn, conductor.
1855-6. Sigismund Thalberg, noted pianist, and Henri Vieuxtemps, great violinist, made a concert-tour in America.
1856. Mar. 17. Adelaide Phillips, noted contralto, made her operatic (American) début as Azucena in "Il Trovatore," in New York City.
1856. Oct. Flotow's opera "Stradella" presented at Niblo's Garden, New York City.
1856. Dec. 3. Verdi's opera "La Traviata" presented at the Academy of Music, New York City, with Madame de la Grange, Brignoli and Amodio.
1856. Dec. 29. Beethoven's opera "Fidelio" presented in German at the Broadway Theatre, New York City, when Mademoiselle Johansen made her American début in the title rôle. (Ritter states that this opera was given in English by the Seguin Company on Sept. 9, 1856—the first representation in America.)
1856. The Academy of Music in Philadelphia opened.
1856. The Cecilia Society and Harmonic Society organized in Cincinnati, O.
1856-7. During this season an orchestra, under Carl Bergmann, giving concerts at the City Assembly rooms, New York City, is said to have performed for the first time in America: