Michael Li-Paz Two Conejo Valley musicians will present “Who’s Afraid of Opera” at 3 p.m. Sun., March 14 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

Michael Li-Paz, a former New York City Opera star who lives in Westlake Village, and Michael Glenn Williams, a Newbury Park composer and international concert pianist, will perform a varied program, including opera scenes and other music by Puccini, Leoncavallo, Mussorgsky, Verdi, Mozart, Rossini, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Gershwin. Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 for students, and are available at the box office or through Ticketmaster.

Li-Paz has presented similar “Who’s Afraid of Opera” programs as a cruise ship performer.

“I called it this because many people are afraid of opera; they’re not prepared to listen to operas because of the foreign languages and the subject matters,” said Li-Paz, a basso. “I make it easier for them. I give them an introduction.”

Michael Williams The event will be casual, like friends spending the afternoon together, Li-Paz said. He plans to tell funny stories about his experiences with live opera and live theater. The pieces he’s chosen to present vary—some are challenging, emotional or popular; others are dramatic, humorous or unknown.

“I will introduce the musical numbers so people understand what we’re all about,” Li-Paz said. “We want to get the audience involved.”

When he was younger, Li-Paz was unfamiliar with opera, he said. A native of Israel, Li-Paz served eight years in the Israeli Air Force. While in the military, he began singing, entertaining a squadron.

“As a kid I always play-acted and sang and had a natural gift with a good voice, but I never knew anything about opera,” Li-Paz said. “I didn’t think about it. I was thinking of wars and survival in Israel.”

While in the army, he began taking voice lessons with a teacher who introduced him to opera.

“I realized that opera is the highest level of the performing arts because it includes music, lyricism, choreography, theater, dancing. It encompasses so many subjects, fiction, nonfiction, history, fact,” Li-Paz said.

Opera also requires familiarity with languages like Italian, French, Spanish and Latin in order to properly pronounce the words, Li-Paz said.

“A big spectrum of the arts are included in opera, which is why it costs so much to produce with all of the scenery, full orchestra, costumes and bringing in various artists. . . .” Li-Paz said. “Putting it all together is like painting a picture.”

In the concert, Williams will perform two piano pieces: the premiere of his arrangement of the Puccini aria “Nessun Dorma” and an arrangement of “Fascinating Rhythm, Etude No. 7” by George Gershwin that is only available from the Gershwin family.

Williams composes classical music, avant-garde electronic music, religious works, pop and jazz as well as works for television and film.

His work has been featured on several albums and in films that include “King of the Hill,” “Wonderland” and “The Limey.”

He has served as director of contemporary music at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks and as an accompanist for Southern California churches, temples, colleges and master classes.

Williams was recently chosen to serve as composer-in-residence for an annual music festival at Lake Como, Italy.

“We are having great fun rehearsing,” Li-Paz said. “Michael is wonderful, and it’s going to be a great concert.”

Li-Paz and Williams met through music 20 years ago. Williams was the accompanist for Li-Paz during High Holiday services at several Los Angeles synagogues.

The men have also played in concert together with Li Paz’s son, Ron Li-Paz of Oak Park, a cantor at a San Fernando Valley temple.

Li-Paz earned a full scholarship to study at the Juilliard School of Music at Lincoln Center in New York and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, where he studied with opera stars Giorgio Tozzi, Maria Callas and Alexander Kipnis.

He was the first Israeli native to join the New York City Opera. His first starring role in New York was in a production of “The Barber of Seville.”

He has appeared in most of the major opera houses and symphony halls in the United States, including the Los Angeles Opera Company.

Williams described Li-Paz’s style as a dramatic approach to singing.

“Michael has a gargantuan talent, and it’s a thrill to be playing with him,” Williams said.