Since its foundation in 1995 the duo "La Follia Colonia" (Christiane Kreit - recorder and Paulo Peres - lute / theorbe) has been appearing in concerts in Germany, Spain and Brazil. The object of "La Follia Colonia" is to interpret ancient music played on original instruments based on studies of treatises and ancient sources about historical performance, theory of affects and rhetoric also in dialogue with similar structures in "living music styles" of 20 century (like jazz, choro, folk music of the mediterranian sea). The accent on improvisation and spontanity as well as the vivid and virtuous presentation put the excited audience into the vivacious atmosphere of the 17th and 18th centuries.

In course of time "La Follia Colonia" specialized in the music of Italian baroque and published in 1998 its debut-CD "Viaggio italiano" as result of the intensive occupation and research over this repertory. This led to an invitation to the Early Music Festival in Barcelona in the same year. In 1999 the second CD "Il Mondo va in Giro" came out with works by Vivaldi, Corelli and others, including three first recordings, among others the Sonata in F-Major by Giovanni Canuti. Another CD followed with the first recordings of the Ballets an Corrents op.30 by Mauritio Cazzati. Extracts of the CDs were emitted in the radio and were presented live on television. "Strada Mediterranea" (2000) contains works from Italy, Spain, France and Germany; the current CD "Trans Atlantico" contains Brasilian Music from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

CHRISTIANE KREIT received her first recorder lessons at the age of 6 years. Since 1983 she has been performing in numerous concerts as a soloist and as a member in various ensembles for chamber music also with orchestra. From 1991 - 1994 she studied instrumental pedagogic (recorder) at the "Musikhochschule Köln" and then continued her studies with Christoph Huntgeburth at the "Hochschule der Künste" in Berlin, where she passed her artistical exam in 1998. She participated in various masterclasses with well-known recorder-players like Han Tol, Kees Boeke and Peter Holtslag. She published the first modern edition of the Ballets and Corrents by Mauritio Cazzati, which she recorded with La Follia Colonia. Besides her concert activity at present she is teaching recorder and chamber music at the music-school in Hürth-Hermülheim.

PAULO EUGÊNIO PERES was born in 1966 in Santos/ Brazil. He studied at the "Faculdade de Música" in Santos with Eli C. da Glória Jr. and taught guitar and chamber music there from 1986 to 1987. In 1988 he continued his studies with Edelton Gloeden at the "Universidade de São Paulo". Meanwhile he participated in different festivals for ancient and contemporary music both as an interpreter and as a composer. In 1991 he began his lute-studies with K. Junghänel at the "Musikhochschule Köln" and passed his artistical exam there in 1994, than perfected with Rolf Lislevand and Stephen Stubbs. In 1997 he passed his teaching diploma. He also participated in masterclasses with well-known interprets like Hopkinson Smith, Nigel North, Luciano Contini, Han Tol and Christoph Ehrsam. At present he is performing as a soloist and chamber musician in numerous concerts, publishing his compositions and giving masterclasses and lectures in universities.

CRITICS

Prof. Dr. D. Kämper - Univ. Köln (Cologne -Germany): "...die CD (Strada Mediterrânea), die mir sehr gut gefallen hat, wegen des grossen Einfühlungsvermögens und Stilgefühls (besonders bei den Stücken von Diego Ortiz)." ..."gostei muito do CD, por causa da profunda capacidade de compreensão(colocar-se no contexto,sentimento,sensações) e senso de estilo(especialmente nas pecas de D. Ortiz)."

Gilberto Mendes (composer and critic) on "Viaggio italiano": "This CD is a delicacy (...) and changes between works for recorder and lute and moments for lute solo, in which we can hear in whole plenty of the great technician, the sensitive artist and the musicologist, entering into smallest details, in which Paulo Peres had transformed. Christiane Kreit impresses with the absolute control of the different recorders, with the facility and the

Dr. Márcio Bezerra - Professor, Palm Beach Atlantic College (Florida, USA): "La Follia Colonia, a duo of recorder (Christiane Kreit) and lute (Paulo Eugênio Peres)dedicated to the performance of Renaissance and Baroque music has issued a long-awaited new CD. On its latest recording, this well-established ensemble has turned its attention to a repertory that spans from Luis Milan's Il Maestro's gems to a full-fleshe fantasia by Telemann. As an added bonus, the CD features the world premiere recording of Mr. Peres's work Guaiaó Most of the pie ces heard in this recording are in open form (preludes, ricercares, fantasias,etc) and La Follia Colonia shows its supreme mastery of this repertory by choosing not to over-embellish. Contrary to the belief of many leading experts in the field, the works of these masters can speak for themselves, and excessive improvisation or ornamentation sometimes obscures the elegant simplicity so characteristic of them. That is not to say that the listener will not enjoy the skill of Ms. Kreit as an improviser. Indeed , she improvises in most of the repeats, but with such elegance and simplicity that one would assume that the notes were actually written down by the composers themselves. The same can be said about Mr. Peres, who performs his accompaniment role with extreme discretion and precision. In addition, his solos display a deep understanding of this repertory; one only need to listen to his performances of Vallet's non-mesure pieces to assess his mastery. Finally, one cannot disregard the CD's opening piece, Guaiaó by Mr. Peres. This truly versatile artist has an already substantial oeuvre, which utilizes diverse instrumental formations. This piece should not be heard as a mere curiosity, it is a truly outstanding work, displaying the lyricism so characteristic of Mr. Peres as a composer. The exact blending of classicism and contemporaniety has been a hallmark of Mr. Peres and is now starting to be appreciated by audiences and experts alike".