A musical portrait of America, culminating with Copland’s widescreen, cinematic portrayal of the open spaces of North America which features a striking reprise of the classic Fanfare for the Common Man. From 25 years earlier, though sounding far more modern, comes Edgard Varèse’s Amériques which fuses the raw energy of The Rite of Spring (performed by the NYO at Easter) with the searing sirens and fog-horns of metropolitan New York. Meanwhile, Rachmaninov’s Fourth (and final) Piano Concerto bursts at the seams with infectious blues and jazz colours; the spirit of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue looms large in its giddy and exhilarating climaxes.

We are delighted to be joined by two of the most exciting musicians working today: the fearlessly virtuosic Boris Berezovsky and conductor Antonio Pappano, Music Director of the Royal Opera.