Ives: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3

For this third volume in an Ives series that Sir Andrew Davis and his Melbourne Orchestra have already made globally popular, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet takes on the challenge of the solo piano part in Symphony No. 4. The work is famous for its ubiquitous difficulties, not least the apparent impossibility of realizing many of the composer's creative intentions in a live performance, as evidenced by the forty pages of background discussion and practical advice to conductors that introduce the published score. It is complemented by the less-often-performed triptych Orchestral Set No. 2 and the Pulitzer Prize winning Symphony No. 3. This album is a "must-have" for anyone who wants to experience this monumental music under optimal conditions.