Dream A Little Dream

The Lark Theater is embarking on a glorious celebration of Richard Wagner and his most famous operatic work, the four-part Ring Cycle. It starts Monday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m. with Wagner's Dream, a dramatic look at the pressure as the Metropolitan Opera prepares to stage a monumental production of the entire cycle.

The Lark follows up through May 19 with presentations of Das Rheingold (May 9), Die Walkure (May 12), Siegfried (May 16) and Gotterdammerung (May 19).

Here are a few facts you might not have known about one of the most famous names in opera.

• Rumors suggest Wagner's mother Johanna Rosine was a former mistress of Constantin, Prince of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.

• Wagner had the Festspielhaus in Bavaria built to his specifications in order to present his four-part Der Ring des Nibelungen. It now hosts an annual Wagner festival.

• He completed the full score for Parsifal in 1882. Wagner died in 1883 in Venice.

Here are a few other things you might want to investigate:

• The Marin Girls Chorus invites girls in grades K-12, to join the program. Four levels of classes are offered to suit all ages and abilities. Music theory, note reading, voice training, and ear training are an integral part of the weekly classes. Choristers are also introduced to rhythm and percussion instruments as part of their music instruction.

• How do you feel about money? Do you save your money for a rainy day, or do you spend it as soon as you get it? Dr. Levinson, author of Emotional Currency: A woman's guide to building a healthy relationship with money, will visit the Corte Madera Library on Tuesday at 7 p.m. She'll talk about a profound new approach to dealing with your finances.  Learn your unique, emotional relationship with money.

• Going out to dinner? The Tavern at Lark Creek is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Month by picking up the first $10 on the bill for any educator dining at the restaurant in May.