La Follia
To Welcome in the Spring: Songs of the Lark & Linnet
Saturday, February 22, 1997
First English Lutheran Church

Fine playing, excellent scholarship and communicative interpretations perhaps best describe last Saturday evening's program given by the Austin ensemble La Follia at the First English Lutheran Church. The concert, "To Welcome in the Spring: Songs of the Lark & Linnet," offered music of Daquin, Telemann, Hoffmeister and others based on bird song.

The highlight of the first half of the program was Keith Womer's spirited reading of "Le Rappel des Oiseaux" by Rameau. Bruce Fithian has a fine tenor voice, but like many musicians, perhaps in an effort to capture the spirit of the 17th and 18th centuries, he seemed to me to be a bit too polite in his interpretation of Montclair's cantata "Europe."

Conversely Stephanie Prewitt's mezzo performances of Haydn communicated beautifully with a wide range of expression aided by her superb voice. If you enjoy fine singing, you need to hear this woman sing. While her focus, diction, projection and musicianship may not be beyond reproach, they aren't far from it. William M. Cory provided fortepiano accompaniments that beautifully mirrored Prewitt's interpretations.

All of the ensemble performances reflected a shared sense of enthusiasm for the music. Thoughtful spoken introductions added significantly to the program, which was wellreceived by an attentive, appreciative and respectful audience. It would seem that La Follia deservedly has a well-informed following.

Karl Miller
Austin American-Statesman