This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.
1850
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) completed Symphony in A major
September 21 – Hans Sitt (1860-1922) was born in Prague, Czech Republic
November 17 – String Quintet in C major, D. 956, op. posth. 163, by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was first performed in Vienna, Austria
1851
February 6 – Symphony No. 3 in E♭ major, op. 97, “Rhenish”, by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was first performed in Düsseldorf, Germany
March 27 – Vincent d’Indy (1851-1931) was born in Paris, France
1852
Robert Schumann (1810-1856) completed his final revision of the Symphonic Etudes, op. 13, for piano
March 14 – Manfred Overture, op. 115, by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was first performed in Leipzig, Germany
November 21 – Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909) was born in Villarreal, Spain
1853
March 6 – Prelude, Act 1, from the opera La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) was first performed in Venice, Italy
May 15 – The 2nd version of Symphony No. 4 in D minor, op. 120 (much preferred by Clara Schumann and most often performed today) by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was first performed in Düsseldorf, Germany
1854
February 23 – Les préludes, S. 97, symphonic poem by Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was first performed in Weimar, Germany
February 27 – Robert Schumann (1810-1856) attempted to drown himself in the Rhine River and, after being rescued, committed himself to a sanatorium in the Endenich quarter of Bonn, Germany, remaining there for the rest of his life.
July 3 – Leoš Janáček (1854-1928) was born in Hukvaldy, Czech Republic
September 1 – Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921) was born in Siegburg, Germany
1855
January 20 – Ernest Chausson (1855-1899) was born in Paris, France
February 17 – Piano Concerto No. 1 in E♭ major, S. 124, by Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was first performed in Weimar, Germany
May 12 – Anatoly Lyadov (1855-1914) was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia
June 13 – Overture to the opera I vespri siciliani by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) was first performed in Paris, France
December 3 – Piano Trio in G minor, op. 15, by Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) was first performed in Prague, Czech Republic
1856
Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857) completed the orchestral version of Valse-Fantaisie, in B minor
May 26 – George Templeton Strong (1856-1948) was born in New York, New York
July 29 – Robert Schumann (1810-1856) died in Bonn, Germany
1857
January 7 – Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125, by Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was first performed in Weimar, Germany
February 15 – Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857) died in Berlin, Germany
June 2 – Edward Elgar (1857-1934) was born in Lower Broadheath, Worcestershire, England
September 5 – A Faust Symphony, S. 108, by Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was first performed in Weimar, Germany
1858
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) completed Piano Concerto No. 1 in D major, op. 17
April 22 – Ethel Smyth (1858-1944) was born in Sidcup, England
November 24 – Tritsch-Tratsch Polka in A major, op. 214, by Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) was first performed in Vienna, Austria
1859
January 22 – Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, op. 15, by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was first performed in Hanover, Germany
November 19 – Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov (1859-1935) was born in Gatchina, Russia
December 2 – Ave Maria, in F major, op. 12, by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was first performed in Hamburg, Germany
