In 1855, after Thalberg's operas "Florinda" and "Cristina di Svezia" had failed, he realized his ambition to give concerts in America. From July to December 1855 he performed with overwhelming success in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. He returned to Europe, but after a stay of several months in Paris went on the steamboat "Africa" to North America, where he arrived on 3 October 1856, in New York. After Thalberg's debut there on 10 November 1856, a performance marathon ensued, during which he spent eight months giving concerts 5 or 6 days a week. Occasionally he gave two or even three concerts a day. On Sundays, concerts were generally only allowed if they presented "sacred music", but several times Thalberg performed anyhow, playing pieces like his "Moïse-fantasy", based on a prayer from Rossini's opera, or his "Huguenots-fantasy" with the chorale "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" as main subject. His "Andante" op. 32 and the "Marche funèbre varié" op. 59 were also allowed.