Theremin! Lydia Kavina & The Lochrian Ensemble at St George's in Bristol Review
Posted on: 2016-04-22
Our rating:
Her passion and enthusiasm for the instrument was palpably evident, at times getting carried away and chuckling to herself as she interpolated musical examples into her talk with a pervasive sense of wonder and excitement that was infectious.
Thursday 21 April 2016 showcased an evening of musical other-worldly weirdness when leading theremin player Lydia Kavina and The Lochrian Ensemble performed a selection of tantalisingly divergent classical compositions and film music at St George's in Bristol.
Invented in 1919 by Russian physicist Lev Termen (whose name in the United States was Leon Theremin), the theremin is one of the most unusual and unique instruments in that it's played without actually being touched, instead creating sounds produced through electro magnetic waves manipulated by the hand gesticulations of the performer.
It was one of the earliest electronic musical instruments and has an astonishing sonic range from ear-splitting high shrieks and wails to growling, subterranean rumbling base notes. If you're going to approximate it to any sound, I suppose an electronic bowed saw would be closest.
.jpg "Theremin! Lydia Kavina & The Lochrian Ensemble at St George's in Bristol")
Theremin was the cousin of Lydia's grandfather so it's a natural progression that she should master the instrument and is now revered as one of its leading contemporary exponents and one of the most accomplished thereminists in the world.
Commissioned for the Watershed's Filmic season by St George's, the unique symbiosis between music and image was explored through an intriguing, refreshingly idiosyncratic program of compositions that have utilized to great effect the distinctive sounds of the instrument.
After a beautifully tender and sumptuous opening performance of Massenet's Meditation accompanied by pianist Christopher Northam, Kavina gave an introductory talk about the history of the theremin and her association with - and love of - it. Inspired, informative and peppered with a several beguiling anecdotes, her passion and enthusiasm for the instrument was palpably evident, at times getting carried away and chuckling to herself as she interpolated musical examples into her talk with a pervasive sense of wonder and excitement that was infectious.
Mark Grant's Bird of Paradise For Theremin Solo was the perfect tour de force, demonstrating the instrument's breathtaking dynamic range. This was followed by the theme for the original Star Trek TV series - for which, originally, they had to resort to using a singer as they couldn't find a proficiently skilled theremin player - and although it was only brief, it was a nostalgically fun, sprightly rendition of the now-classic tune.
The second half saw Kavina joined again by pianist Christopher Northam plus oboist Imogen Triner and string quartet The Lochrian Ensemble. Martinu's Fantasy for Theremin, String Quartet, Oboe and Piano was thunderous, rousing post-interval opener, sprinkling some welcome, perky playfulness amidst the frenetic sturm und drang.
And then it was on to the final, fantastic stretch of film and TV music. Miklos Rosza's Spellbound Fantasy - a suite stitched together from his score for the classic Alfred Hitchcock film - was a superlative performance of lush, lyrical romanticism spiced up with bouts of intermittent, musically inventive paranoid hysteria.
The suite from Bernard Herrmann's score to The Day The Earth Stood Still was absolutely epic; the spooky, glistening ostinatos not diminished one jot by the smaller ensemble, and the theremin truly coming into its own with a standout performance that invoked the iconic image of humanoid robot Gort with a thrilling, spine-tingling blast of quivering, undulating sonic howls.
The lilting, mysteriously impish theme from Midsomer Murders plunged us briefly into charming televisual territory, and Howard Shore's main title from Tim Burton's Johnny Depp-starring Ed Wood was a marvelously quirky minute five minute romp.
Staying on the zany musical odyssey of Tim Burton movies, a thrilling double-whammy of Danny Elfman scores formed the finale of the concert with selections from the initially driving, rhythmic then concluding gentle, heartwarming Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the relentlessly audacious and puckishly irreverent march from Mars Attacks!
Offering a brilliantly enjoyable rare insight and performance into this generally little-known, offbeat instrument, Theremin! was a two hour breath of musical fresh air with its deliciously alternative and eclectic program and absolutely stunning performances by the entire ensemble.
5/5
Reviewed by Jamie Caddick for 365Bristol.com - The website where local information matters
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Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
