1855

Achille Arnaud, a pianist from Naples, arrives in Rio de Janeiro, becoming an important piano teacher in the city.

May 27th. Recital by Achille Arnaud in which he performs a Fantasy on Bellini's opera La sonnambula; Souvenir do Rio de Janeiro; Concert Mazurka; and Grand Fantasy on Verdi's Il trovatore. All works and transcriptions are probably his own. Teatro Provisório, Rio de Janeiro. July 10th to December 16th.

The Swiss pianist Sigismond Thalberg arrives in Rio de Janeiro with a group of singers hired in Europe for the cast of the Teatro Lírico Fluminense, remaining during this period. He performed in a series of six public concerts and gave several recitals in private venues, including in Vassouras (RJ), Paraíba do Sul (RJ) and other cities. July 25th. Sigismond Thalberg's debut in Rio de Janeiro, with the participation of singers from the theater and an orchestra conducted by Gioacchino Giannini.

Thalberg performed his Fantasy for pianoforte on motifs from Bellini's opera La sonnambula; his Fantasy on motifs from Auber's opera La muta di Portici; his Study in A minor (in repeated notes); and his Variations on the barcarole from Donizetti's opera L'elisir d'amore. The piano used in the concert was an Erard, brought from Paris. This concert featured the participation of other musicians. Teatro Lírico Fluminense (Teatro Provisório), Rio de Janeiro.

August 3rd. Second concert with the participation of Sigismond Thalberg, in which he performed his Fantasy on Moses in Egypt, by Rossini; his Variations on motifs from Bellini's opera Norma; his Variations on the finale of Act 2 of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor; His Grand Caprice on motifs from Donizetti's opera Lucrezia Borgia. This concert featured other musicians. Teatro Lírico Fluminense (Teatro Provisório), Rio de Janeiro.

August 18. Third concert with Sigismond Thalberg, in which he performed his Fantasy on Rossini's opera Semiramis; the Andante cantabile, followed by the Serenade, both from Donizetti's opera Don Pasquale (Thalberg's transcription for solo piano); his Neapolitan Tarantella; and his Grand Variations on the Barcarole from Donizetti's opera L'elisir d'amore. This concert featured other musicians. Teatro Lírico Fluminense (Teatro Provisório), Rio de Janeiro.

September 26. Fourth concert with Sigismond Thalberg, in which he performed his Fantasy on motifs from Meyerbeer's opera Les Huguenots; his Fantasy on motifs from Rossini's Moses in Egypt; His Barcarola and Grand Fantasy on Themes from Lucrezia Borgia, by Donizetti. This concert featured the participation of other musicians. Teatro Lírico Fluminense (Teatro Provisório), Rio de Janeiro.

October 3rd. Fifth concert with the participation of Sigismond Thalberg, in which he performed his Variations on Themes from the opera Don Giovanni, by Mozart; and his Grand Fantasy on Themes from the opera Norma, by Bellini, the latter for two pianos with pianist Weiss. The same concert featured the orchestra conducted by Cristiano Stockmayer, and other musicians as well. Teatro Lírico Fluminense (Teatro Provisório), Rio de Janeiro.

October 18th. Pianist Weiss performs the Fantasy on Themes from Norma (probably by Thalberg), with another unidentified pianist.

Rio de Janeiro. December 14th. Sixth and final concert in Rio de Janeiro featuring Sigismond Thalberg, in which he performed his Study in A minor, and an unidentified piece for two pianos with Achille Arnaud (probably the Fantasy for Two Pianos on Bellini's opera Norma). This concert featured other musicians. São Pedro de Alcântara Theatre, Rio de Janeiro.