Richard Strauss’ tone poems are arguably among some of the most richly orchestrated and strikingly adventurous pieces written for orchestra. Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) is no exception as it closely follows the composer’s own real-life conflicts, resolutions, and romances along the way through its bold battle music, soaring melodies, and passionate spirit. Join Gustavo Dudamel as he conducts Strauss’ heroic journey for the first time in Los Angeles after the LA Phil performs a brand-new orchestral piece by Roberto Sierra—the Puerto Rican composer known for his unique fusion of European modernism and Latin American folk elements called “tropicalization.”