Peter Zelenka's Play 'Teremin' Explores Inventor Lev Termen's Life, Premiered in Prague 2005

In November 2005, 'Teremin,' a play written and directed by Czech filmmaker Peter Zelenka, made its debut at Dejvicke theatre in Prague. The narrative revolves around Lev Sergeevich Termen (1896–1993), the Russian inventor of the theremin, which he created circa 1919. Termen showcased this instrument to Lenin in 1922, spent time in New York during the Great Depression, collaborated with notable figures such as Joseph Shillinger and Albert Einstein, married Lavinia Williams, and returned to the Soviet Union in 1938. The drama, set in Termen's New York years (1928–1938), features detective elements and received a nomination for the Alfred Radok Prize in 2005. Performances were planned for April and May 2006, with Russian and English translations available. Zelenka utilized theremin replicas for the Prague production, drawing from Albert Glinsky's book and insights from Termen's student Lydia Kavina. An interview was published on ARTMargins Online on November 15, 2006.