FROM THE DORF TO THE HOOD An evening of compositions by composer & improviser William Roper

Los Angeles native William Roper–tubaist, composer and veteran of the Los Angeles contemporary music scene performs a program of some of his recent compositions. The concert, produced by Cornelius Schnauber, playwright and director of USC's Max Kade Institute, is part of L.A. Opera's Ring Festival. All of the evenings compositions were inspired by a residency Roper served in the Bavarian village (dorf) of Schwandorf in 2006 or the music of Richard Wagner. The concert will feature several unusual and somewhat archaic instruments associated with the era and motifs of Wagner's Ring, including the Wagner tuba, helicon, cimbasso, euphonium and harp.

Roper has chosen some of L.A.'s finest to collaborate with. Featured soprano Christina Linhardt performs internationally as a singer, actress, dancer and avant-garde circus performance artist. Engagements have taken her from Guantanamo Bay to the Palace Ligner in Dresden. Carolyn Sykes on harp has performed with Judy Collins, Charlie Haden and participated in the Philharmonic's Green Umbrella series. Clifford Childers has played with the L.A. Opera, Hollywood Bowl orchestras, Kanye West, Pink Martini and Francisco Aguabella. Hornist Steve Durnin will be featured on the notorious Wagner tuba. Steve is principal horn of the Oregon Coast Music Festival and has played with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Veracruz as well as many of Los Angeles' finer ensembles. He has been heard in many Hollywood blockbuster movies.


April 22, 2010, 7:30 PM

Goethe-Institut Los Angeles
5750 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036

TICKETS: $10.00
RSVP: 323-525-3388
INFO: http://roperarts.com/goethe.htm


William Roper has performed in a wide range of ensembles that stretch from the 1980's acoustic punk ensemble Fat & F'd–Up to playing conch as an extra with the L.A. Philharmonic. In-between have been stints with the likes of Horace Tapscott, Wadada Leo Smith, Glenn Horiuchi, Bobby Bradford, Vinny Golia, Yusef Lateef and Michael Vlatkovich. He has credits in the performance and visual arts world as well and was a recipient in 2006 of the prestigious C.O.L.A. award from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.