Happening Tuesday: Aimee Bender, Jonny Lang and more

EVENTS

Wagner in L.A.: The Opera of the 21st Century? Though his epic four-part opera cycle, “The Ring,” is well over a century old, Richard Wagner’s influence is still apparent in contemporary music, art and philosophy. This two-day symposium, opening today, will explore Wagner’s continuing cultural importance as well as his controversial personal beliefs. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000. hammer.ucla.edu

Great Guitars: Jonny Lang The nimble-fingered guitar prodigy visits the GRAMMY Museum’s intimate sound stage to discuss his ample musical skills, his lifelong love of the blues and his latest album, “Live at the Ryman.” To sweeten the deal, Lang will also answer questions from the audience and perform a few songs from his sizeable catalogue. GRAMMY Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite A245, Downtown. 7:30 p.m. $20. (800) 745-3000. grammymuseum.org

Aimee Bender The author of the novel “An Invisible Sign of My Own” and story collections “The Girl in the Flammable Skirt” and “Willful Creatures” returns with “The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake,” a novel, in keeping with Bender’s unique style of latter-day surrealism, whose protagonist can taste the emotions the cook has unknowingly infused within each bite. The launch will be held at Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Tue. Free. 323-660-1175. skylightbooks.com