Vivaldi's more familiar of two settings of the Gloria (RV589) is coupled with what was to me, at least a wholly unfamiliar setting by Alessandro Scariatti of Psalm 110, Dixit Dominus. Trevor Pinnock, as we should expect, brings vitality to his reading of the Gloria and The English Concert outstrip any other orchestra that I have heard playing it. That much is evident from the crisply articulated ''Gloria in excelsis Deo'' at the outset. Right from the start, in other words, Pinnock creates a sense of occasion, and a fervour which is all too often absent from performances of this radiant score. The ''Domine Fili unigenite'' chorus comes off splendidly with well-sustained singing from The English Concert Choir and notably lively support from the orchestra.
Another feature of this account which I found effective is the strong contrasts which Pinnock makes between contemplative or reflective sections on the one hand, and the more vigorous songs of praise on the other. It sounds an obvious consideration in a director's approach yet there are many recordings of the work which make little in the way of distinction between the two. The ''Domine Deus, Agnus Dei'' for example is well over a minute longer under Pinnock's direction than is allowed under Simon Preston and the Christ Church choir with the Academy of Andent Music on L'Oiseau-Lyre. On the other hand, I have to confess that Carolyn Watkinson's voice (for Preston) appeals to me more in this context than that of Catherine Denley on the new issue; I have heard Denley to better advantage than she sounds here. The two sopranos, Nancy Argenta and Ingrid Attrot are evenly and pleasantly matched in their duet ''Laudamus Te'' and there are fine obbligato contributions from the late David Reichenberg (oboe) and Crispian Steele-Perkins (trumpet).
The Scarlatti Dixit Dominus is an intricate and impressive work probably belonging to the later years of the composer's life—he died in 1725—and written for Rome. The performance is something of a mixed success. Nancy Argenta is splendid in the ''Virgin virtutis'' but I was disappointed by Ashley Stafford in the ''Tecum principium''. There is an inescapable collegiate Englishness about his singing and that, I'm afraid, sometimes goes for the choir, too, both in the Vivaldi and the Scarlatti. Stephen Varcoe somehow manages to overcome any obtrusive vocal insularity and his account of the ''Dominus a dextris tuis'' is a powerful one. What affords constant pleasure throughout the disc, however, is the contribution made by The English Concert. This playing is so far and away superior to that of its rivals in the Vivaldi that I can only regret that all other things are not invariably equal. An enjoyable issue, even so, and I can warmly commend the Scarlatti psalm to all lovers of baroque music. The recorded sound is pleasant though I detected occasional fuzziness in the Gloria.R1 '8805096'