An American Overture (1941) An orchestral work by English composer, pianist and conductor Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). Composed during his stay in North America (which also produced the Canadian Carnival Overture), it bears the influence of American composer Aaron Copland. This piece was intended to be premiered by conductor Arthur Rodzinski and the Cleveland Orchestra, but it was either never delivered or simply not performed. The manuscript was rediscovered decades later, and it was premiered posthumously in 1983 by Simon Rattle and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hickox BBC Philharmonic Orchestra