Orchestral full score. Hardcover. Upright folio. [Title];[instrumentation]; 3 - 255 pp. Inscribed by the composer on the title page in blue ink (translated from the Russian), "To Dimitri Mitropoulos / the wonderful performer of this symphony, with sincere respect and gratitude. D. Kabalevsky / 17 XI 59 / New York." Publisher's blue boards with impressed title to front and spine. Small crack to upper front joint, light wear, otherwise very fine. A most interesting association copy inscribed by the important Soviet composer, conductor, pianist and pedagogue who helped set up the Union of Soviet Composers in Moscow and remained one of its leading figures during his lifetime.

A group of Russian composers arrived in New York on October 22nd, 1959 under the United States-Soviet cultural exchange program, to begin a month's tour of appearances with leading American symphonic orchestras. The group included Dmitri Shostakovich; Tikhon Khrennikov, president of the Russian Composers Union; Dmitri Kabalevsky, Konstantin Dankevich, and Fikret Amirov. The gift of the present score is described in the New York Times article of November 18th, 1959 "SOVIET COMPOSERS SEE OPERA AT 'MET'; 4 of Touring Group Attend 'Butterfly' -- Kabalevsky Gives Mitropoulos Gift": "Four of the five visiting Soviet composers were guests of the Metropolitan Opera House at last night's performance of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly."...After the performance the party went backstage. There they met Dimitri Mitropoulos, the conductor of the opera. Mr. Kabalevsky presented to the conductor the score he had been nursing carefully all evening. It was an autographed copy of his Fourth Symphony and he gave it to Mr. Mitropoulos to show his gratitude because the conductor introduced the work to the United States with the New York Philharmonic two years ago."

Dimitri Mitropoulos was Greece’s most prolific conductor and New York Philharmonic Music Director from 1949-1958.  Widely regarded as one of the most significant conductors of the twentieth century, he is best remembered for his significant recorded legacy and for his commitment in bringing new compositions to the stage of major symphony orchestras.  Indeed, it is thanks to his efforts that many of our current symphonic standards made their way into the repertory.  He gave World and American premiers of seminal works such as Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 and Schoenberg’s Erwartung, as well as other major works by Schoenberg, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and many others.  His personal collection has been held in private hands since his death in 1960, when it passed to conductor James Dixon, his student and protégé.  Mitropoulos came to consider Dixon his son, introducing him to conductors and performing arts institutions around the world, jumpstarting his career.  When Mitropoulos died in 1960 he left all his belongings, including his scores, to Dixon.  The bulk of the musical library has been subsequently gifted to the University of Iowa’s music library, but a selection of rare items have been selected to be offered for sale exclusively by Schubertiade Music & Arts.