London Philharmonic Orchestra: The American Dream

Just as Antonín Dvorák lived the American dream through his touching symphonic hymn to the slave songs and spirituals of America in his Ninth Symphony, so another immigrant Edgar Varèse discovered New Worlds in his epic Amériques.

His piece was hailed as the most important piece 'for grand orchestra' created on American soil since the turn of the 19th century - a bittersweet, wordless rhapsody that envelopes like a dream and includes among its sonic armoury the sounds of sirens, duck-calls, whips and even a steamboat whistle.

Free pre-concert event, 6pm until 6.45pm, Royal Festival Hall
Foyle Future Firsts present Les Six (orch. Constant) 'Les Maries de la Tour Eiffel' - a rare revival of the score to Cocteau's nonsensical ballet.