Regional arts and entertainment events

Sunday

Twilight of the gods The first of Wagner's monumental, four-opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen, Das Rheingold begins the epic with the first forging of a golden ring of power and the battles over it between giants and gods. For their production, performed in the futuristic Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia, Spain, the Catalan theater group La Fura dels Baus brought 3-D computer projections and its patented acrobatic human structures as set design to the myth. Carlos Padrissa's film of the production, conducted by Zubin Mehta, screens at 1 p.m. at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr. Tickets are $25. Call 610-527-4008.

World beat plus When pianist and composer John Hodian and four-octave folkie Bet Williams team up as Epiphany Project, the result is difficult to categorize, but we'll try. The duo takes whatever works, from folk traditions around the world to rock and pop to musical theater to jazz swing, and delivers it all in a smart package. They play at 8 p.m. at PSALM, 5841 Overbrook Ave. Tickets are $15. Call 215-477-7578.

Monday

Dance on film The film festival Motion Pictures, presented by Philadelphia Dance Projects, returns for a seventh year, with two days of screenings at the Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St.: On Monday, it's a look at a genius of flamenco with Juan Cano Arecha's 2007 documentary Antonio Gades, the Ethics of Dancing about the dancer and choreographer (6 p.m.), followed by Carlos Saura's 1981 Bodes de Sangre (Blood Wedding), an adaptation of Lorca's masterpiece with choreography by Gades. On Tuesday, the program focuses on African dance, with two shorts - Pamela A. Hooks' 2009 In Search of Mali Sadjo, about the Philadelphia-based Kulu Mele African Dance and Drum Ensemble's trip to Guinea, and Alla Kovgan and David Hinton's 2008 Nora, about Zimbabwean expatriate dancer Nora Chipaumire (6 p.m.), followed by Shorts, an octet of short films featuring choreographers including Corrie Befort, Kathy Rose, Charles O. Anderson, Allison Lorenzen, and Rebecca Patek. and Jiri Kylian (7:30 p.m.). Tickets are $10 per show; $15 for two shows. Call 215-546-2552.

Summer sounds As great a summer tradition as watching the waves down the Shore is a lawn seat for the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Center, 52d Street and Parkside Ave. The tradition returns this week: Rossen Milanov conducts an all-Beethoven program, with soloists Benjamin Beilman, violin, and Kyu Yeon Kim, piano, at 8 p.m. Monday; Milanov conducts Lutoslawski, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Saint-Saens, with duo pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton, at 8 p.m. Tuesday; and Lio Kuokman conducts and plays harpsichord in a program of Mozart, Vivaldi, Christopher Theofanidis and Stravinksy, with soloist Yu-Chien Tseng at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $10 to $50. Call 215-893-1999.

Far out North Carolina quintet Birds of Avalon delivers a dynamite neo-psychedelic workout on their new CD Unkanny Valley. They play on a three-band bill at 9 p.m. at Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Ave. Tickets are $10. Call 215-739-9684.

Tuesday

Abracadabra! Magic Hall of Famer Richard Gustafson and his wife and assistant Joanne have had a long and distinguished career, starting with a 1967 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show and including national and international tours with performers including Joan Rivers, George Burns, and Johnny Mathis. Now, the Gustafsons bring their expertise to the stage with Amazing World of Magic at the Bristol Riverside Theater, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol, at 1 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 1 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 2 p.m. next Sunday. Tickets are $15; $8 for students. Call 215-785-0100.

Music beats war The ensemble known as Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars are just that. They first met in a camp in Guinea after fleeing civil war (and later having to run again from Guinea's soldiers). A documentary film brought their story and their West African reggae to the world. They play at 7:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. Tickets are $30 and $40. Call 215-222-1400.

Wednesday

Rising star Pianist Di Wu, a Van Cliburn finalist, plays works by Beethoven, Ravel, and Gounod (arr. Liszt) at 7:30 p.m. at Longwood Gardens, Route 1, Kennett Square. Tickets are $16; $14 for seniors; $6 for students and children over 5. Call 610-388-1000.

Thursday

Super team-up A fantastic double bill: Owen Ashworth's one-man quirk-pop band Casiotone for the Painfully Alone and lo-fi jangle-pop trio Cryptacize at 7 p.m. at the Chapel of the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St. Tickets are $10. Call 267-295-2710.

Friday & Saturday

Jazz time Mexican vocalist Magos Herrera is renowned for her strong tone and sensitive style. She performs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street and the Parkway, at 5:45 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $14; $12 for seniors; $10 for students (includes museum admission). Call 215-684-7506

Red, white and - rock! Sponsor WMGK calls it the Let Freedom Rock Fest and we couldn't put it any better, as music headliners the Marshall Tucker Band and Foghat are followed by fireworks. The festivities are at Cooper River Park, S. Park Drive and E. Cuthbert Blvd., Pennsauken, starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. Call 610-667-8500.