Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Complete Ballet); Serenade in C Major
Mercury's legendary recordings, made in the 1950s and '60s to exacting engineering standards--many of them mastered using 35mm magnetic film--also captured some of the best performances of the orchestral repertoire, performances that hold up today against the digital competition. Antal Dorati's sprightlyNutcrackeris a classic, reveling in the sumptuous orchestral color and the score's irresistible danceability.--David Vernier