Events

April 13 – The first Dresden opera house in Germany opens with the performance of a work by Carl Maria von Weber.
Robert Schumann writes two symphonies: Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major, opus 38 (also called the "Spring" symphony), and Symphony No. 4 in D minor, opus 120. (The D-minor symphony is edited extensively by Schumann in 1851, and thus is given a much later opus number and subsequently referred to as No. 4, although it is actually his second.)^{[citation needed]}
Tenor Domenico Donzelli retires from the stage.
Nikolay Afanas'yev resigns as concertmaster of the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra in order to conduct the serf orchestra of a wealthy landowner at Vïksa, near St Petersburg.

Popular music

Adolphe Adam – Giselle (ballet)
Hector Berlioz
- Rêverie et Caprice, H 88
- Les nuits d'été
Frederic Chopin
- Ballade No. 3
- Fantaisie in F minor
Theodor Kullak – Cavatine de Robert le Diable
Friedrich August Kummer – 2 Concert Duos for Violin and Cello, Op. 67
Joseph Lanner – Abend-Sterne Walzer, Op.180
Henry Lemoine – Études enfantines, Op. 37
Jans Christian Lumbye – Döbler's Zauber Galop
Felix Mendelssohn
- Variations sérieuses
- Antigone, Op. 55
- Allegro brillant, Op.92
Clara Schumann
- Die gute Nacht, die ich dir sage
- Lieder, Op. 12
Robert Schumann
- Symphony No.1, Op. 38
- Overture, Scherzo and Finale, Op. 52
- Symphony No.4, Op. 120
Fernando Sor
- Le calme, Op. 50
- Divertissement for 2 Guitars, Op. 62
Johann Strauss Sr
- Amors-Pfeile, Op. 123
- Elektrische Funken, Op. 125
Johannes Verhulst – Symphony in E minor

January 15 – Thorvald Lammers, singer, conductor and composer (died 1922)^[1]
January 18 – Emmanuel Chabrier, composer (died 1894)
January 23 – Sigismund Bachrich, violinist and composer (died 1913)
January 28 – Viktor Nessler, composer (died 1890)
January 31 – Michael Maybrick, composer and singer, better known as "Stephen Adams" (died 1913)
February 10 – Sir Walter Parratt, organist and composer (died 1924)
February 19
- Elfrida Andrée, organist, conductor and composer (died 1929)
- Felipe Pedrell, composer (died 1922)
March 1 – Romualdo Marenco, composer for ballet (died 1907)
May 15 – Giovanni Bolzoni, violinist and composer (died 1919)
May 21 – Joseph Parry, composer (died 1903)
May 28 – Giovanni Sgambati, Italian composer, pianist, and conductor
June 16 – David Popper, cellist (died 1913)
July 9 – Carl Christian Lumbye, Danish composer, son of Hans Christian Lumbye
July 11 – Daniël de Lange, composer (died 1918)
July 18 – Hedvig Willman, Swedish opera singer (died 1887)
September 8 – Antonín Dvořák, composer (died 1904)
September 26 – Signor Brocolini, opera singer (died 1906)
October 11 – Friedrich Hegar, violinist, conductor and composer (died 1927)
November 4 – Karl Tausig, pianist and composer (died 1871)
November 29 – Joe Wilson, singer and songwriter (died 1875)
December 14 – Louise Héritte-Viardot, singer (died 1918)

January 25 – Maria Anna Thekla Mozart, "Marianne", cousin and correspondent of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (born 1758)
February 14 – Antun Sorkočević, diplomat, writer and composer (born 1775)
February 17 – Ferdinando Carulli, composer for guitar (born 1770)
May 18 – John Thomson, composer (born 1805)
June 12 – Konstantinos Nikolopoulos, archaeologist and composer (born 1786)
July 3 – Rosemond Mountain, actress and singer (born 1780s?)
August 13 – Bernhard Romberg, cellist and composer (born 1767)
August 24
- Friedrich Curschmann, songwriter and singer (born 1805)
- Theodore Hook, writer and composer (born 1788)
August 27 – Ignaz von Seyfried, conductor and composer (born 1776)
September 15 – Alessandro Rolla, violinist, composer and music teacher (born 1757)
September 16 – Thomas John Dibdin, songwriter (born 1771)
October 16 – Domenico Barbaia, impresario (born 1778)
October 28 – Francesco Morlacchi, composer (born 1784)
December 22 – Daniil Kashin, pianist, conductor and composer (born 1769)
date unknown – Justina Casagli, opera singer (born 1794) (suicide)