Making Opera More Accessible

Let’s face it, opera is not regular cultural fare in the San Fernando Valley.

But classical singers at the West Valley Opera Theatre are encouraging a renaissance by using comedy, current topics and the English language in performances this weekend at the West Valley Playhouse in Canoga Park.

“The Coffee Cantata” by Johann Sebastian Bach looks at a young woman and her robust coffee habit during Europe’s coffee craze in the 1700s.

Another one-act, “The Telephone,” was written by Gian-Carlo Menotti in 1947, when telephones served more as arteries joining friends than as functional communication tools.

Both works take a humorous look at the obsessed and their enablers.

“People think opera is something serious or very lofty,” said Tracey Shea, of Woodland Hills, who will sing in “The Coffee Cantata.” “But these two pieces are very accessible, and since we’re singing them in English, there’s no language barrier.”

In the old days, opera companies would put the best singers in starring roles even if they were not the right age or did not have the right look, said Elizabeth Holloway of Santa Clarita, who will perform in “The Telephone.”

“Now opera companies are much more aware of younger audiences and are casting singers to look the part,” Holloway said.

“It’s much more visually stimulating. There are enough singers out there to make that possible.”

Shea has assembled a group of guest artists and five local professionals for the company’s first full production, with piano accompaniment.

“It seemed like there was a need,” Shea said. “Other than school productions, there hasn’t been a small, professionally run opera company.”

Other performers include Christopher Holloway of Santa Clarita in “The Telephone” and, in “The Coffee Cantata,” Benito Galindo of Northridge and Pablo Veguilla of Philadelphia.

Veguilla learned about the West Valley Opera Theatre last summer in Rome, where he met Shea, who was singing at an Italian opera festival.

“Her voice is very lyrical and she is flexible in different roles,” Veguilla said.

The production will be held at the recently opened 170-seat West Valley Playhouse, a remodeled Masonic Lodge that caters to a semi-dressy or casual crowd.

“Smaller companies are building awareness,” said Gary Murphy, director of public relations at the Los Angeles Opera. “Once you hear a piece of music that goes right into your brain and your soul, the quest for hearing that again becomes insatiable.”

BE THERE

West Valley Opera Theatre presents “The Telephone” and “The Coffee Cantata” tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m., at the West Valley Playhouse, 7242 Owensmouth Ave. in Canoga Park. $18-$16. Call (818) 884-1907.