Pick of the Pack

By William Bender

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 93 to 104 "Salomon") (London Philharmonic, Eugen Jochum conducting; Deutsche Grammophon; 6 LPs; $33). Individually, these symphonies delight unceasingly with their diversity, wit, bounteous melody and, at times, power. Collectively, they are the crown of Haydn's lifework. Though particular tastes may lean, say, to SzelFs "Surprise" or Bernstein's "London," this is by far the best integral set available of the complete dozen. At 71, Jochum eloquently states the case for interpretative orthodoxy.

Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back: Frank Sinatra (Reprise; $5.98). Though somewhat skimpy in length (Side 2 is barely 15 minutes long), this first album since Sinatra's supposed retirement abounds with all his old graces: the infallible sense of just how much is enough, the crafty building to one climactic moment per song, the right way with the right word, and the impeccable taste in material (notably in choosing Stephen Sondheim's Send in the Clowns and four lilting ballads by Joe Raposo).

Bach: Goldberg Variations; Variations in the Italian Style, Harpsichordist Igor Kipnis (Angel; 2 LPs; $11.98). The Art of Igor Kipnis, Vol. 2 (Columbia; 3 LPs; $9.98). Having surrendered America's finest harpsichordist to Angel two years ago, Columbia continues to reissue the superlative albums he originally taped for the now defunct Epic classical label. Included here are choice anthologies of English, German and Austrian music (late 16th century to the 18th) for clavichord as well as harpsichord. Meanwhile, Kipnis, 43-year-old son of the great Russian basso Alexander, moves on. His Goldbergs boast boldly colored registrations, an entertaining songfulness, and a wondrous knack for making Baroque embellishments sound inevitable.

Puccini: Turcindot, with Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballe, Nicolai Ghiaurov (London Philharmonic, Zubin Mehta conducting; London; 3 LPs; $17.94). Puccini's last opera is filled with bold orchestral touches and ravishing arias made to order for an all-star cast like this. Though she does not erase memories of the Nilsson Turandot (especially in the RCA set with Tebaldi and Bjoerling), Sutherland is now the only coloratura around with the right tessitura and sufficient vocal weight-at least on records-to bring off the role of the riddle-happy princess. A delight.

Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers (Capricorn; $5.98). Topped off by Richard Belts' virtuoso lead guitar and Chuck Leavell's infectious piano, this is a rollicking fusion of rock, jazz and white rural Southern blues that adds up to one of the best pop albums of the year. It is also unusually tasteful.

Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust, with Nicolai Gedda, Jules Bastin, Josephine Veasey (London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Colin Davis conducting; Philips; 3 LPs; $20.94). This work exists on one of the composer's loftier plateaus of the mind rather than on a workable theatrical level. Thus Damnation is in many ways especially well suited to armchair listening. Continuing his masterly unprecedented series devoted to Berlioz's major works, Davis again conducts with suave professionalism and lightning-like flashes of insight and revelation.

Purcell: The Fairy Queen (English Chamber Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Benjamin Britten conducting; London; 2 LPs; $ 11.98). A master at conducting his own music, Britten has also in recent years given us fascinating interpretations of other composers' work -notably the Mozart G Minor Symphony and the Bach Brandenburg Concertos. The neglected Fairy Queen-half opera half masque-is perhaps his finest effort: vibrantly joyous, magisterial in its command yet tender in the plaints of the soloists (especially Bass John Shirley-Quirk's Next, winter comes slowly).

Moondog Matinee: The Band (Capitol; $5.98). Until the release next month of the group's debut LP for Elektra/Asylum with Old Crony Bob Dylan, Band buffs will have to settle for this serenade to the juke joints of old. Robbie Robertson and colleagues have never turned their backs on the good old days of rock 'n' roll when they worked as the Hawks. In this newly recorded collection of golden oldies by the likes of Chuck Berry (Promised Land) and Fats Domino (I'm Ready), it is easy to see why. Is there another rock combo around that can be so earthy and soulful, yet so full of panache?

Dvorak: Nine Symphonies (Berlin Philharmonic, Rafael Kubelik conducting; Deutsche Grammophon; 9 LPs; $49.50). Those who like their Dvorak in plural doses, but with budgets to balance, may safely investigate the late George Szell's album of the last three and best symphonies (Columbia; 3 LPs; $ 11.98). Most other fans of the Czech nationalist will want to save their pennies for this set. Kubelik's surging way with the music catches its color and drama and seems to belie the uneven moments in some of the early symphonies. The Berlin Philharmonic, reduced so often to a static silkiness by its regular leader, Herbert von Karajan, here seems positively to revel in Kubelik's ruddy approach.

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