More than 135 years after Richard Wagner completed the fourth and final opera of his epic Der Ring des Nibelungen, this night of contemporary music and film unfolds in four acts that touch on different aspects of the composer’s life, work and place in history: his musical and theatrical innovations, his über-expressionist concept of art, his preoccupation with Norse-Germanic mythology, his outsize personality, specific passages in his operas, and—not least—some of the ways in which creative practice has developed since his time. Extending well over three hours with intermissions, the multilayered program features work by former Villa Aurora resident composers Peter Ablinger, Marko Ciciliani and Ulrich Krieger, additional compositions by Mark Menzies, Marc Sabat and Wolfgang von Schweinitz, and films by Peter Rappmund and Meason Wiley. This presentation is part of the 10-week Ring Festival LA, centered around LA Opera’s new production of Wagner’s monumental Ring cycle.

PROGRAM

Act I
Peter Rappmund: Firedays (2008), film
Peter Ablinger: ohne titel (1993); James Sullivan and Brian Walsh, clarinets

Act II
Marc Sabat, composed jointly with Martin Arnold, John Oswald, and Richard Wagner: Idylilly (2000); Mark Menzies and CalArts Strings
Marko Ciciliani and Jeff Kowalkowski: Bosch tapped the gas pedal and the Caprice moved forward..., Sections: “Vorspiel”,”Day Book”, “Numbers” (1996–2000); CD playback

Act III
Meason Wiley: Vorspiel Umgestaltet (Wagner), ensemble w/ film (1853–2009); Meason Wiley, laptop; Aniela Perry, cello; Matt Barbier, trombone; Philippe Brunet, trumpet
Wolfgang von Schweinitz: Plainsound Brass Trio 1, op. 50 (2008): Trio Kobayashi: Anna Robinson, French horn; Matt Barbier, trombone; Luke Storm, tuba

Act IV
Mark Menzies: Piwakawaka (fantail) (2009); Mark Menzies, violin; Richard Valitutto, piano
Ulrich Krieger: Ginnungagap & 3 Nornen (2006); Scott Cazan, laptop; Ulrich Krieger, alto saxophone 

LA Opera is joining forces with more than 50 Southern California arts and educational institutions for Ring Festival LA, the region’s largest, broadest-based artistic endeavor since the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival. The festival runs from April 15 through June 30. See ringfestivalla.com for the full schedule of events.