Events in Music
- 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]
Birthdays in Music
Deaths in Music
- May 11 Otto Nicolai, German composer & conductor, dies at 38 of a stroke