A Night at the Fitz

Keillor, backed by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, is featured at Minnesota Public Radio's Fitzgerald Theater with an hour-plus of songs and pieces infused with music (such as a Guy Noir piece with Milhaud's ÒLe Boeuf sur le ToitÓ for atmosphere). Selections run the Prairie Home Companion gamut from humor (some even a bit racy) to sentiment to nostalgia, much of it amusing or touching. Keillor's performance is both easy and polished. His singing . . . well, it's best on the funny pieces. He can carry a tune, though not very far. The music is well used and well recorded and makes up a vivid part of the program without distracting the listener or overwhelming the star. This is a small but choice treat for PHC fans. W.M. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine