Gods, Rhine mermaids, and dwarves…oh my! Step into the mythical work of Wagner’s first opera in the iconic Ring Cycle whose story influenced Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and whose music inspired John Williams’ iconic soundtrack to Star Wars. Under the masterful baton of Carl St.Clair—a tried-and-true Wagnerian who conducted the entire 15-hour Ring Cycle from memory in Weimar!—Pacific Symphony invites you to experience the raw power and gripping narrative of this mythic prologue, where the stakes are as high as the heavens and as deep as the Rhine itself.

Preview Talk at 7 p.m. with KUSC midday host Alan Chapman.