Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey
A documentary about the inventor of the first electronic synthesiser instrument and his subsequent life after he was abducted by the KGB as well as a history of his instrument. A documentary about the…
Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey
A documentary about the inventor of the first electronic synthesiser instrument and his subsequent life after he was abducted by the KGB as well as a history of his instrument. A documentary about the amazing life of Leon Theremin, inventor of the theremin, the electronic musical instrument so beloved of 50s sci-fi movie music. Theremin amazed America with his instrument until his kidnapping by Soviet agents in the mid-30s. Upon his release from a labor camp, he worked on surveillance devices for the KGB. Almost 60 years later , he is brought back to America for a touching reunion with his friends and colleagues. —Erik Gregersen <erik@astro.as.utexas.edu> In the 20's and 30's, Russian emigrant Leonard "Leon" Theremin surprised the world with his musical invention, the theremin, and electronic musical instrument. He lived in New York, with members of high society, including Einstein and Clara Rockmore, among his friends. He married an Afro-American dancer Lavinia Williams, what it was uncommon at that time. He gave concerts, including in the Carnegie Hall, with his instrument. However, in 1938, he disappeared and later discovered that he was kidnapped by KGB Agents. He was sent to a Gulag labor camp and when he was released, he worked for KGB. When his friends find him in Russia, he returns to United States to meet his Clara Rockwood and his former friends before his death in 1993, in Moscow. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey
Biography,Documentary,History
Film Details
A documentary about the inventor of the first electronic synthesiser instrument and his subsequent life after he was abducted by the KGB as well as a history of his instrument. A documentary about the amazing life of Leon Theremin, inventor of the theremin, the electronic musical instrument so beloved of 50s sci-fi movie music. Theremin amazed America with his instrument until his kidnapping by Soviet agents in the mid-30s.
Upon his release from a labor camp, he worked on surveillance devices for the KGB. Almost 60 years later , he is brought back to America for a touching reunion with his friends and colleagues. —Erik Gregersen <erik@astro.as.utexas.edu> In the 20's and 30's, Russian emigrant Leonard "Leon" Theremin surprised the world with his musical invention, the theremin, and electronic musical instrument.
He lived in New York, with members of high society, including Einstein and Clara Rockmore, among his friends. He married an Afro-American dancer Lavinia Williams, what it was uncommon at that time. He gave concerts, including in the Carnegie Hall, with his instrument.
However, in 1938, he disappeared and later discovered that he was kidnapped by KGB Agents. He was sent to a Gulag labor camp and when he was released, he worked for KGB. When his friends find him in Russia, he returns to United States to meet his Clara Rockwood and his former friends before his death in 1993, in Moscow.
—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.