Customer Reviews

Lost Theremin Album

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although Clara Rockmore is universally acclaimed as one of the best musicians of her era, very few of her performances were ever recorded. An aspiring violinist, she took up the strange and wonderful Theremin when physical problems forced her to give up the violin. She invented a method for playing the radical new instrument, and her classical concerts gave the instrument respectability.
In keeping with her style, all the material on this CD is classical in nature, often somber or serious in tone. And while these recordings were made long after her heyday, the performances are still top rate examples of Theremin playing and her discipline and passion for the material is clearly undiminished by time.
Her few earlier recordings had long been an inspiration to several generations of Thereminists. This set of recordings enlarges the available corpus of her work tremendously. Let us hope it inspires as many new musicians as the first round!

I've got a couple of Clara's other CD's and this one is just stellar. There are two standouts - Estrellita and Summertime that show the incredible artistry of both Clara and her equally talented sister Nadia Reisenberg in something other than classical music. I wish more people would discover Clara and Nadia's work - they're both under appreciated if you ask my humble but accurate opinion (LOL).

The booklet that comes along with the CD is quite funny and very loving as it's written by Clara's nephew/Nadia's son who brought this gem to life.

This is definitely a CD to add to the collection.

I also bought this CD after Rockmore's "Art of the Theremin." Different from its use in science fiction movies, here, the theremin sounds plaintive and-- it's hard to resist-- haunting, like a combination of a woman's voice, a musical saw, and a violin. Different from other reviewers who find the theremin boring, I enjoy the contrast between the theremin and acoustic instruments of the accompanying orchestra and piano. I especially like "Midnight Bells" ("Gehen wir ins chambre séparée" from Heuberger's operetta, "Der Opernball"), a waltz duet recorded solo by sopranos including Beverly Sills.

Clara Rockmore's theremin artistry comes forth beautifully with this achingly lovely collection of classical music. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the theremin as a musical instrument and for the classical music lover in general.

If you're even looking at this you're probably already a fan of the Theremin.
As a historical perspective on the Theremin this album may be important and Clara Rockmore is certainly an accomplished player.
The problem is that the instrument itself is very boring once the novelty has worn off...(yes I know the majestic beauty of arms waving in the ether, creating music of the spheres etc etc blah blah blah.)
When Theremin went on his initial US tour in 1928, electricity was new and exciting and the Theremin was like a 'magical' thing that sounded 'just like a cello or violin'. People became very excited, many even thought that the age of string instruments and orchestras was over, all to be replaced by the Theremin. But just as margarine isn't butter, Splenda isn't sugar and polyester isn't silk, the Theremin isn't a real replacement for the Cello or any other instrument unless you have some irrational need for that to be the case.
And it's inherent limitations of attack and constant Portomento make it very boring when one tries to play traditional music using a Theremin.
Even with someone as good as Clara Rockmore, the imperfect intonation is extremely difficult to listen to for long periods.
I'm a jazz musician and the Theremin rendition of Summertime although intellectually interesting, was musically vapid.I've never heard a less inspiring version of the song. Musically I found the entire album extremely boring.
That's the thing with the Theremin, it seems to be more about the instrument than the music. Lev Termin was a fascinating character, and the Theremin is a fascinating instrument but this CD is not the one you want unless you're a Theremin fan. It's a musical oddity with some historical importance as the 'first electronic instrument'played by a 'virtuoso'. That's why I bought it, and it didn't disappoint from that perspective.....but once through was more than enough. It'll collect dust on my shelf from here on out.

Okay, full disclosure, I am a total Clara Rockmore slut. I love, love, love her! I'm listening to this album right now & it makes me cry. Her intonation is so solid, I compare her to a beloved soprano whom you know will hit those high notes without fail. Always gives you that special thrill. And, of course, unbelievable on the low tones, too. If you do not care for the Theremin, so be it. If you do, bless you, you will be in heaven with this album.

Thanks very much for making this wonderful and unique historical document available ... anyone who is even remotely interested in the Theremin and how well it CAN be played should not be without this CD!

Many people know the Theremin sound only as special or follow-music for scary or sci-fi movies, but, indeed, Clara Rockmore brings a new deminsion to it and it is or becomes music to listen to, relax to, or just enjoy!

This is a great album if you like/love the Theremin. It is livelier than the other Rockmore CD, and shows off her staccatto technique better. The piano is also great. Suggest getting the Theremin DVD to fully appreciate this music. It was fascinating.

No one does it better! Clara Rockmore, who studied under Leon Theremin, the inventor of this iconic instrument, plays the selections with effortless art -- and passion.

Wow!