Clara Rockmore

Clara Rockmore (1911–1998) was a Lithuanian-American musician widely regarded as the foremost classical theremin player of the twentieth century. Born Clara Reisenberg in Vilna, she trained as a violin prodigy before an arm injury redirected her toward the theremin, which she mastered under Léon Theremin himself. Her recordings demonstrated the instrument's capacity for lyrical, precise expression and were crucial in establishing it as a legitimate concert instrument. Her friendship and collaboration with Theremin himself was well documented. Her recordings, reissued on Delos, remain the definitive theremin performances.