A GOTHIC CHRISTMAS - A Victorian Magic Lantern Show

WHISPERS OF WINTER - A Candlelit Theremin Concert at Guys Hospital Chapel with Lydia Kavina & Thomas Ang on Saturday the 9th December 2023 at 7:00 pm The theremin, with its ethereal tone and otherworldly sound, is the perfect instrument to create a magical Christmas atmosphere. Its notes, seemingly conjured from thin air through the mesmerising hand movements of the player, bring to mind the enchantment of a winter's night. First introduced to the public in 1920 by Russian inventor Leon Theremin, this unique instrument found its way to the stage with the New York Philharmonic by 1928. Leon Theremin's expertise in electronics also led him to develop listening devices for the KGB. During its golden era in the 1930s and 40s, celebrated virtuosos like Clara Rockmore and Lucie Bigelow Rosen captivated audiences, and a theremin orchestra even performed at Carnegie Hall. Its sound, often associated with the supernatural, became a staple in the film industry, enhancing the eerie ambiance of movies like "Spellbound" and "The Day the Earth Stood Still." Robert Moog, influenced by the theremin, embarked on his journey to invent the first synthesizer. In this special Christmas recital, Lydia Kavina, a student of Leon Theremin himself, and a renowned theremin virtuoso, will take us on a mystical journey. She will craft a gothic symphony of sound using well-known holiday melodies, shaping a hauntingly beautiful tribute to the festive season. Tickets £16 including a delightful gin cocktail and 20% donation to Guy's and St Thomas' Charity. Please click here to purchase. Lydia Kavina Lydia Kavina was born in Moscow and began studying the theremin at the age of 9 under the direction of Léon Theremin himself, who was first cousin of her grandfather. She is one of the world’s leading theremin virtuosos and has helped engender the instrument’s renaissance over recent years. She has worked with composers such as Danny Elfman and Howard Shore. Thomas Ang Thomas studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Hamish Milne and Diana Ketler, and at the Guildhall School with Andrew West and Eugene Asti. He has won prizes for his performances of Beethoven, Frederick Delius, Arthur Bliss, and the contemporary piano repertoire, and has been praised for his thoughtful and critical programming and excellent technique. He has also earned recognition as a specialist in the music of Nikolai Kapustin, having played and conducted premieres of his compositions in the UK, US, Singapore, and Australia.

WHISPERS OF WINTER - A Candlelit Theremin Concert
at Guys Hospital Chapel with Lydia Kavina & Thomas Ang
on Saturday the 9th December 2023 at 7:00 pm

The theremin, with its ethereal tone and otherworldly sound, is the perfect instrument to create a magical Christmas atmosphere. Its notes, seemingly conjured from thin air through the mesmerising hand movements of the player, bring to mind the enchantment of a winter's night.

First introduced to the public in 1920 by Russian inventor Leon Theremin, this unique instrument found its way to the stage with the New York Philharmonic by 1928. Leon Theremin's expertise in electronics also led him to develop listening devices for the KGB.

During its golden era in the 1930s and 40s, celebrated virtuosos like Clara Rockmore and Lucie Bigelow Rosen captivated audiences, and a theremin orchestra even performed at Carnegie Hall. Its sound, often associated with the supernatural, became a staple in the film industry, enhancing the eerie ambiance of movies like "Spellbound" and "The Day the Earth Stood Still." Robert Moog, influenced by the theremin, embarked on his journey to invent the first synthesizer.

In this special Christmas recital, Lydia Kavina, a student of Leon Theremin himself, and a renowned theremin virtuoso, will take us on a mystical journey. She will craft a gothic symphony of sound using well-known holiday melodies, shaping a hauntingly beautiful tribute to the festive season.

Tickets £16 including a delightful gin cocktail and 20% donation to Guy's and St Thomas' Charity. Please click here to purchase.

Lydia Kavina
Lydia Kavina was born in Moscow and began studying the theremin at the age of 9 under the direction of Léon Theremin himself, who was first cousin of her grandfather. She is one of the world’s leading theremin virtuosos and has helped engender the instrument’s renaissance over recent years. She has worked with composers such as Danny Elfman and Howard Shore.

Thomas Ang
Thomas studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Hamish Milne and Diana Ketler, and at the Guildhall School with Andrew West and Eugene Asti. He has won prizes for his performances of Beethoven, Frederick Delius, Arthur Bliss, and the contemporary piano repertoire, and has been praised for his thoughtful and critical programming and excellent technique. He has also earned recognition as a specialist in the music of Nikolai Kapustin, having played and conducted premieres of his compositions in the UK, US, Singapore, and Australia.