Lydia Kavina is currently one of the leading performing musicians on the theremin. Born in Moscow Lydia began studying the theremin at the age of 9 under the direction of her great-uncle Léon Theremin himself. Five years later she was ready to give her first heremin concert, which marked the beginning of her musical career that has so far led to more than a thousand concerts and theatre, radio and television performances throughout the world.
Lydia's current project is the theremin solo in The Little Mermaid, a ballet by Lera Auerbach, choreographed by John Neumeier, in Copenhagen’s New Opera House (2005) and in the Hamburger Staatsoper (2007-2009).
As a solo performer Ms. Kavina appeared at such prestigious venues as the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, London Barbican, Chatelet Theatre in Paris and Amsterdam Concertgebouw (with the Netherlands Radio Orchestra under Reinbert de Lewes). She collaborated with the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia under V. Spivakov and with London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Lydia has been invited by leading music festivals, including New York's Lincoln Center Festival, the Holland Music Festival, the Martinu Festival in Prague, the Electronic Music Festival in Burge, and Moscow Avantgarde.
Mrs. Kavina recorded 3 solo CDs with original music for theremin and played for a number of film soundtracks including Ed Wood and eXistetnZ with music by Howard Shore and The Machinist by Roque Banos.
She has also featured in stage productions, such as Alice and The Black Rider (both conceived and directed by Robert Wilson, with music by Tom Waits) in the Hamburg Thalia Theater and Halle Kalk in Cologne and played theremin line for Russian Bolshoi.
Lydia performs most of the classical theremin repertoire, including popular orchestra works for the theremin by B. Martinu, J. Schillinger and Spellbound by M. Rosza.
As a theremin enthusiast Lydia constantly seeks to expand the theremin repertoire, frequently performing lesser known music of the 20th century such as Equatorial by E. Varese, Obouchov's Testament and the graphical scores of Percy Grainger.
Lydia has written a number of her own compositions, including a Concerto for theremin and symphony orchestra, first performed by the Boston Modern Orchestra, under Gil Rose.
Ms. Kavinais an active promoter of new experimental music for the theremin. In collaboration with Barbara Buchholz and Kamerensemble Neue Musik Berlin she established the "Touch! Don't Touch!" project and commissioned 20 modern composers in writing contemporary pieces for the theremin. This music was performed in Germany throughout 2005-2008 and published on a CD.
Lydia is strongly committed to educational activities, encouraging student musicians and beginners to learn the instrument and take the instrument seriously. She constantly integrates master classes, workshops and lectures in her concert schedule. Her video tutorial "Mastering the Theremin" recorded with Moog Music, is widely used among beginners.
Ms. Kavina holds a degree in composition from the Moscow Conservatory, where she also accomplished a postgraduate assistantship program and conducted a class of classical theremin at the studio of electronic music for a number of years.