Notes and Editorial Reviews
In 1975 Theremin pioneer Clara Rockmore came out of retirement at the behest of Robert Moog and recorded several hours worth of repertoire, mostly encore-type fare. Twelve pieces were released by Delos; here are the remaining 16. If you can get past the Theremin's horror-movie connotations and oleaginous vibrato, you'll have no trouble appreciating Rockmore's intelligent musicianship and effortless mastery.
Like Fritz Kreisler and Vladimir Horowitz, Rockmore was a born encore player. Her feeling for nuance, sense of proportion, subtle dynamic inflections, and tasteful, varied portamentos convey character and dignity in a wide range of material, including Kreisler's Liebeslied, Dvorák's Humoreske, Schubert's Ave Maria,
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Chopin's Posthumous C-sharp minor Nocturne, Bach's Air (on the G-string), and the famous Aria from Villa-Lobos' Bachianas-Brasileiras No. 5. Even audience-baiting numbers such as Summertime and La Vie en Rose make the most sincere, unhackneyed impressions.
Rockmore's sister, pianist Nadia Reisenberg, hardly could be more sympathetic and stylish a collaborator. However, in three previously-issued selections, Reisenberg's piano parts are replaced by newly recorded accompaniments: a cello ensemble in the Fuliehan Pastorale and the aforementioned Villa-Lobos, plus Jorge Morel's guitar in Ponce's Estrellita. They work beautifully. Everything about this release constitutes a labor of love, including the booklet notes and photographs. The boxy sonics have dated somewhat, but that shouldn't deter theremin fans from an essential acquisition for anyone who cares about the instrument.
--Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording
1.
Liebesleid by Fritz Kreisler
Performer:
Clara Rockmore (Theremin),
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: Austria
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
2.
Air for Violin and Harpsichord in B minor by Johann Mattheson
Performer:
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano),
Clara Rockmore (Theremin)
Period: Baroque
Written: Germany
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
3.
Humoresque in F sharp major, B 138 by Antonín Dvorák
Performer:
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano),
Clara Rockmore (Theremin)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1884
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
4.
Concerto for Theremin: Pastorale by Anis Fuleihan
Performer:
Clara Rockmore (Theremin),
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 4 Minutes 3 Secs.
Notes: This selections also features a cello ensemble.
5.
Ellens Gesang III, D 839/Op. 52 no 6 "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert
Performer:
Clara Rockmore (Theremin),
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1825; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 4 Minutes 55 Secs.
6.
Nocturne for Piano in C sharp minor, B 49 by Frédéric Chopin
Performer:
Clara Rockmore (Theremin),
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 3 Minutes 56 Secs.
Notes: The attribution of this composition to Chopin is doubtful.
7.
Requiebros by Gaspar Cassadó
Performer:
Clara Rockmore (Theremin),
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: Spain
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 4 Minutes 1 Secs.
8.
Suite for Orchestra no 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Air by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano),
Clara Rockmore (Theremin)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1729-1731; Leipzig, Germany
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 5 Minutes 36 Secs.
9.
Bachianas brasileiras no 5 for Soprano and 8 Cellos by Heitor Villa-Lobos
Performer:
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano),
Clara Rockmore (Theremin)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1938-1945; Brazil
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 7 Minutes 3 Secs.
Notes: This selections also features a cello ensemble.
10.
Midnight Bells [after Heuberger] by Fritz Kreisler
Performer:
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano),
Clara Rockmore (Theremin)
Period: Romantic
Written: Austria
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 3 Minutes 48 Secs.
11.
Mélodies hébraïques (2): no 1, Kaddisch by Maurice Ravel
Performer:
Clara Rockmore (Theremin),
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1914-1919; France
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 4 Minutes 43 Secs.
12.
Porgy and Bess: Summertime by George Gershwin
Performer:
Clara Rockmore (Theremin),
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1935; USA
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 2 Minutes 47 Secs.
13.
Water Boy by Avery Robinson
Performer:
Clara Rockmore (Theremin),
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 2 Minutes 56 Secs.
14.
Estrellita by Manuel Ponce
Performer:
Jorge Morel (Guitar),
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano),
Clara Rockmore (Theremin)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1912; Mexico
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 3 Minutes 1 Secs.
Notes: Arranger: Jorge Morel.
15.
La vie en rose by R. S. Louiguy
Performer:
Clara Rockmore (Theremin),
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1946; France
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 2 Minutes 1 Secs.
16.
Concerto for Harpsichord in D minor, BWV 1052: 2nd movement, Arioso by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Clara Rockmore (Theremin),
Nadia Reisenberg (Piano)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1738-1739; Leipzig, Germany
Date of Recording: 07/1975
Venue: Producers Recording Studio, New York Cit
Length: 3 Minutes 56 Secs.
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