Volume 6 of this series was a Gramophone Award nominee in 2001 and this one is just as good: it contains some very fine and largely unfamiliar music, in splendid performances. The principal work is the 'other' Gloria – RV588, not the popular 589, which, however, by no means outshines it. This setting, in fact, begins particularly fascinatingly, as the choral climax to a short, introductory solo motet Jubilate, o amoeni chori; the motet elides, as it were, into the choral Gloria in an attractive and lively movement. Then follows a poetic, choral 'Et in terra pax', rich in texture and especially in harmony, and several further movements scarcely less appealing than their counterparts in RV589.
The disc starts a shade unpromisingly, with what seems rather a routine Laetatus sum, in solid block choral writing against orchestral figuration.
But the Laudate pueri is quite another matter, a highly demanding solo motet which Carolyn Sampson sings with great precision and brilliance – Vivaldi often writes for the solo voice as if it has the agility of a violin, but this clearly doesn't disturb her. There's a lot of original and imaginative writing here.
The short motet Vestro principi divino was probably written for a weak contralto, in which case the use of Nathalie Stutzmann is an inspired piece of miscasting: she sings this entertaining piece with great power and accuracy, and goes on to do the motet introducing the Gloria in virtuoso fashion.
The other soloists, Susan Gritton and Charles Daniels, have less to sing but do it with no less distinction. And Robert King directs his choir and orchestra with sensitive feeling for tempo, nuance and style. One could hardly ask for more.