1870 in music

See also: 1869 in music, other events of 1870, 1871 in music and the list of 'years in music'.

Events

• Musikverein opens in Vienna (January 6)
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's fantasy-overture Romeo and Juliet debuts in Moscow, conducted by Nikolai Rubenstein (March 16)
• Leo Delibes' ballet Coppélia debuts at the Paris Opéra (May 25)
• Richard Wagner's Die Walküre premieres at the Munich Court Theatre (June 26)

Published popular music

• "Come In Old Adam, Come In!" by Alice Cary & C. F. Shattuck
• "Just Touch the Harp Gently, My Pretty Louise" by Sam Mitchell & Charles Blamphin

Classical music

• Messe des Orphéonistes – Charles Gounod

Opera

• Prodana Nevesta (The Bartered Bride) by Bedřich Smetana
• Die Walküre by Richard Wagner

Musical theater

• Chilpéric     London production
• La Mascotte     Paris production
• La Périchole     London production

Births

• January 3  – Henry Eichheim
• February 12 – Marie Lloyd, British music-hall singer (d. 1922)
• April 30 – Franz Lehár
• August 4 – Harry Lauder, Scottish singer, comedian and songwriter
• August 12 – Arthur J. Lamb, lyricist and actor
• October 7 – Uncle Dave Macon, musician
• November 30 – Cecil Forsyth

Deaths