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German guitarist Michael Jost's latest concert composition "CONCIERTO" performing in Venice Beach

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Brace yourself for an evening of beautiful, inspiring music and art.

CONCIERTO, the latest concert composition by accomplished Venice Beach guitarist, Michael Jost, is having its premiere performance at the Electric Lodge, January 29th.

The Lodge, home of Michael’s ZEITLOS Album Release Fundraising Event, and other spectacular performances, will be host to an exciting night of art, video projection, and a stellar line up of musicians, joining Michael onstage.

Composed in the wintery landscape of his native country, Germany, CONCIERTO, will take the audience on a mystical journey of music that progresses through a variety of stringed instruments accompanied by some of the finest musical artists Venice Beach has to offer.

“I grew up in Germany, where I learned classical guitar,” Michael explains, “In Germany, precision is very much encouraged. I learned how to be a technically proficient player in Germany.” He motions out the window to the crowd-filled boardwalk below. “Living here in Venice Beach allows me to take my music to a higher level.”

SPECIAL GUESTS for January 29, 2016:

Special Guests confirmed for the event include: bass player, Joey Maramba, straight off his tour with John Cale from Velvet Underground; Singer/Songwriter, and Venice Beach royalty, Suzy Williams; and Austrian saxophonist, Reinhold Schwarzwald!

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Digital Album “Zeitlos” by Michael Jost:

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As Richard Wagner’s 200 Birthday Nears – Staged Reading of ” Richard and Felix – Twilight in Venice” at the Goethe Institut L.A.

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Staged Reading of “Richard and Felix in Venice”
Tuesday, May 21st 2013, 7:30 pm 

Richard Wagner and his second wife Cosima, who...
Richard Wagner and his second wife Cosima, who established the Bayreuth canon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A short synopsis of the play:

Venice Italy, February 13, 1883. Composer Richard Wagner is seen at the window overlooking the Canale Grand in Venice.

As the music of Felix Mendelssohn plays, Mendelssohn himself, dead since 1847, appears to Wagner from beyond the grave.
Although in reality, the two had but three brief encounters, Richard and Felix: Twilight in Venice provides a fictionalized meeting and discussion between the two composers during the final hours of Wagner’s life.
The dramatic exchanges between the two composers explore not only Wagner’s fascination and animosity toward Mendelssohn’s music, but also examine the music of the time.
Although not a typical topic for the two composers, or their contemporaries the topic of Wagner’s relationship to Judaism—viewed through 21 century eyes— is also explored.

Presented by USC’s Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss Studies, the German-American Cultural Society (GACS) and the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles.

Richard and Felix: Twilight in Venice, had its world premiere in 2010 in Hollywood’s MET THEATRE, and this staged reading will reunite the original cast.
Performed by: Don Paul (Richard Wagner), Jerry Weil (Felix Mendelssohn), Channing Chase (Cosima Wagner), Kelly Chatman (Lover), Christina Linhardt (Narrator)
The evening is produced by Cornelius Schnauber, the author of the play, Emeritus Associate Professor of USC and Founding Director and Director Emeritus of USC’s Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss Studies, and is sponsored by USC’s Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss- Studies, as well as the German-American Cultural Society (GACS).
English translation by Tom Schnauber.

Reception following the event. RSVP required.
$1 Validated Parking at Wilshire Courtyard West Building (P1) on weekends and evenings after 6:00 pm (events only) Related links

Goethe-Institut Los Angeles
5750 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036
$7 General Admission, $4 for students, seniors, GACS members, Free for Friends of Goethe
RSVP: +1 213 7432707
or  kade@dornsife.usc.edu

 Article / Event Source: Goethe Institut Los Angeles