First issued here for the centenary of Ives's birth, this performance, with its sound quality somewhat improved, is welcome back. Symphony No. 4 is among the great works of American music and one of the most remarkable things that Ives ever did. Serebrier, born in Uruguay of Russian and Polish parents, understands this music well, especially the last two movements where much of the symphony's weight lies. He was, of course, one of Stokowski's assistant conductors at the New York first performance in 1965.
This interpretation, however, is by no means an echo of Stokowski's (CBS 77424, 9/74—part of a four-LP set). For example, and as MM pointed out when Serebrier's recording first appeared, the second movement's representation of chaos resolves quite differently. It is reassuring that this performance is at its most impressive in the visionary last movement, although on a more mundane level one has to point out that at 32'44" the overall playing time is not generous.
-- Gramophone [9/1985, reviewing the LP release, Chandos 1118]
