I saw my first live Theremin performance last night - Lydia Kavina gave a performance in Oxford, and there must have been probably only 30 of us in the audience.. which is a shame - she deserved to be heard / seen by many more..
I have seen many performances (quite a few by Lydia) on U-tube .. but NOTHING prepared me for this performance.. The speed, accuracy, control, expression - everything - was incredible.
I think it was Joseph Shillinger's 'Mouvement Electrique and Patetique" (I might have got it wrong) which Lydia played to demonstrate how impossible it was to play on the Theremin... Well, stone me - it was the fastest thing I have ever seen musically - hands flying too quickly to follow - but everything sounding perfect..
Lydia.. U-tube videos do not do you justice .. Anyone who has never seen Lydia playing live, well - take the first chance you have to see her!
This concert completed what was for me an almost completely disasterousday - I had planned to attend Lydia's earlier workshop, but was nearly written off in a vehicle pile-up on the way to the event.. How I managed to avoid being mangled is beyond me - but I (and my vehicle) got away without a scratch... I missed the workshop, but managed to get to the show.. And am real glad I did.. after the near accident I nearly turned back.