Famous Swiss pianist Sigismong Thalberg performs in New York for the first time, beginning his two-year, 56-concert tour of America. Thalberg earns the unprecedented $500 per concert (the amount that will remain unmatched even by his touring musical successors Anton Rubinstein and Ignacy Jan Paderewski). The firm of Chickering & Sons provides pianos for Thalberg in every city of his tour, thus initiating the phenomenon of “virtuoso endorsements” in America. Very soon Steinway & Sons will adopt their competitor’s strategy, and will become famous for associating with the world’s most brilliant piano-playing stars.