ON THE RECORD ’86 : THE BEST OF THE CD CROP

1986 was marked by a positively voracious consumer appetite for classical compact discs--a harbinger of the imminent demise of the classical LP.

The year was further notable for the number of releases of relatively esoteric material from small, new British and French companies (where do they get the money?) competing with the big guys for the public’s CD dollar. Then, too, we were cheered by the old-guard labels’--in particular CBS, RCA, Angel and Philips--resurrecting older interpretations that, in spite of their “legendary” status, had years ago ceased to be commercially viable as LPs.

The new format seems to have brought back the sophisticated record buyer. And, in spite of the high CD selling price--$15 per disc on the average, but, particularly on the reissues, longer playing-times than on LP--dealers and pressings plants were barely able to keep up with demand. Heartening developments for the industry, and for classical music in general.

So here, one listener’s choices of the year’s best classical CDs, listed in alphabetical order within each of four categories.

ORCHESTRAL

Copland: Symphony No. 3; “El Salon Mexico,” “Danzon Cubano.” Eduardo Mata conducting Dallas Symphony. The sprawling symphony and the concise, witty, Latin-flavored scores in trim, sparklingly energetic readings.

Dukas: “La Peri”; Symphony in C. Armin Jordan conducting Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Erato 88089. Luscious, sexy music, atmospherically led by Jordan, who may just be the long-awaited successor to Charles Munch in this repertory.

Handel: Organ Concertos, Opus 4 & Opus 7. Ton Koopman, soloist, and conducting Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (period instruments). Erato 88136, 3 discs. Animated, joyous Handel from this Dutch keyboard whiz and least dogmatic of antiquarians.

Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 8. Leonard Bernstein conducting New York Philharmonic & London Symphony. CBS 42199, 3 discs. From the epochal CBS-Bernstein Mahler cycle, with sonics almost miraculously improved over the original 1960s LP issues.

Mendelssohn: The Five Symphonies. Claudio Abbado conducting London Symphony. Deutsche Grammophon 415 353, 4 discs. Abbado’s conducting exudes a pleasingly old-fashioned, rather Teutonic spaciousness and warmth.

Mendelssohn: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Andre Previn conducting London Symphony. Angel 47163. The complete score, projected with optimum gracefulness, lyricism and charm.

Mozart: The 23 Piano Concertos. Alfred Brendel, piano; Sir Neville Marriner conducting Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Philips 412 856, 10 discs. Although recorded between 1970 and 1984, the same lively, probing musicianship informs the whole of this treasurable set.

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3. Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano; Bernard Haitink conducting Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra. London 417 239. A surprisingly tart, even modern score in the hands of these alert, brainy performers.

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 (“1905”). Leopold Stokowski conducting Houston Symphony. Angel 47419. An emotionally charged composition in an inspired interpretation, handsomely recorded in 1958, positively dazzling in its 1986 remastering.

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1, (“Winter Dreams”). Mariss Jansons conducting Oslo Symphony. Chandos 8402. A delectable segment of the first integral Tchaikovsky symphony cycle on CD.

Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 3 (“Pastorale”) & 5. Sir Adrian Boult conducting New Philharmonia Orchestra & London Philharmonic. Angel 472 142. A pairing of the most seductive of VW’s nine symphonies, from the interpretive source.

SOLO AND CHAMBER MUSIC

Beethoven: Trios for Piano, Violin and Cello (complete). Vladimir Ashkenazy, Itzhak Perlman, Lynn Harrell. Angel 47455, 3 discs. The stars shine--as individuals and as a vigorous, seamless ensemble.

Borodin: The Two String Quartets. Borodin Quartet. Chant du Monde 278 793. Nobody plays this colorful music with quite the conviction and succulence of tone of these Russian veterans.

Liszt: Sonata in B minor; “Un sospiro,” etc. Andre Watts. Angel 47381. Watts, the thinking man’s supervirtuoso, in the single memorable recording engendered by the Liszt centenary.

Mozart & Beethoven: Quintets for Piano and Winds. Radu Lupu, piano; De Vries Wind Quartet. London 414 291. Playing of extraordinary stylishness in the great Mozart original and Beethoven’s charming imitation.

Mozart: The Six String Quintets. Arthur Grumiaux Ensemble. Philips 416 486, 3 discs. Flawless remasterings of 1974 sessions led by the late Belgian violinist. Some of the greatest music ever written, played with a degree of vivacity, warmth and technical aplomb unexcelled on recordings before or since.

Stravinsky, Wolpe, Lieberson: Works for Piano. Peter Serkin, piano. New World 344. Attractive, offbeat 20th-Century repertory performed by the masterful American pianist.

VOCAL MUSIC

Britten: Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings; “Les Illuminations”; Nocturne. Peter Pears, Barry Tuckwell; Benjamin Britten conducting London Symphony. London 417 153. Legendary performances from the 1960s, in ‘80s state-of-the-art sound.

Janacek: “Glagolitic” Mass. Elisabeth Soederstroem, et al.; Sir Charles Mackerras conducting Prague Chorus & Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Supraphon 7448. A thunderous, savage score, executed with thrilling authority.

Janacek: “The Cunning Little Vixen.” Lucia Popp, Eva Randova, Dalibor Jedlicka, et al.; Sir Charles Mackerras conducting Vienna Philharmonic. London 417 129, 2 discs. A touching operatic fable sung and played with utmost refinement and spiritedness.

Rossini: “Il Viaggio a Reims.” Lucia Valentini-Terrani, Francisco Araiza, Ruggero Raimondi, et al; Claudio Abbado conducting Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Deutsche Grammophon 415 498, two discs. The first recording of this marvelously witty opera is distinguished above all by Abbado’s dashing leadership.

Strauss: Scenes From “Elektra” and “Salome.” Inge Borkh, Paul Schoeffler; Fritz Reiner conducting Chicago Symphony. RCA 5603. Seething, gutsy performances from master singers of the 1950s under a conductor unrivaled in this repertory.