The performance of the Italian Symphony is most enjoyable, its style unexpectedly effervescent. The outer movements are taken fast but the resilient orchestral playing prevents...

The performance of the Italian Symphony is most enjoyable, its style unexpectedly effervescent. The outer movements are taken fast but the resilient orchestral playing prevents any feeling of glossiness and the delicacy of the wind playing in the slow movement is most fetching. Similarly the opening of the third movement is gracious, the horns in the trio having an almost elfin quality. The recording is good, warm with plenty of body, but less transparency, although there is a difference between fink and piano here that is not always noticeable in recordings from this source. In short this is very enjoyable, the more so as Szell observes the first movement repeat.

-- Ivan March, Gramophone [3/1977, reviewing Symphony no 4 on LP]