Over the years, audiences have come to regard Mozart's "Don Giovanni" - the musical tale of the dashing and heartless Spanish lover, Don Juan - as a fairly heavy work.

But on Jan. 19 and 21 at Royce Hall, the Department of Music's Opera UCLA, conducted by Visiting Professor William Vendice, will present a version of "Don Giovanni" that is actually closer to the authors' original intentions. Mozart called it an "opera buffa" (comedy), while his librettist labeled it a "dramma giocoso."

" 'Giocoso' means lighthearted," explained Vendice, who teaches the opera workshop on campus and also serves as conductor, chorus master and head of the music staff for Los Angeles Opera. "It's a comedy, but it's a black comedy."

Now in his fourth year as a visiting professor, Vendice came to UCLA at the suggestion of Professor Timothy Mussard, head of the voice department and an old friend. "They were looking for a conductor to run the opera workshop, and Tim talked to me about it for quite a long time," Vendice recalled. "I didn't have any idea that I could take on yet another job, but everybody downtown (at L.A. Opera) was very supportive. They loved the idea that L.A. Opera had a connection with UCLA."

William Vendice rehearses his opera students for "Don Giovanni"

So with the blessing of his boss - Placido Domingo - Vendice juggles his teaching duties with his responsibilities downtown at L.A. Opera. A professional pianist, Vendice rehearses the choruses, coaches the singers and accompanies them on piano when there is no orchestra present. He's currently conducting "La Boheme" at the Music Center and will conduct "Tosca" there in June.

Vendice's musical career began, oddly enough, on a chicken ranch in Petaluma, Calif., where he was born and raised. At 5 years old, he began taking piano lessons from the wife of one of the local ranchers. He went on to receive a B.A. in music/piano from San Francisco State College in 1972 and took a job as a rehearsal pianist with the San Francisco Opera. He's also worked as assistant conductor with the Houston Grand Opera, Boston Opera, Santa Fe Opera, the Grand Theatre de Geneve and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Despite his impressive experience with opera singers, Vendice won't warble any arias himself.

"I know how I like to hear other people sing," he said, "but nobody would want to hear me, believe me!"

Tickets for the Royce Hall performances at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 and 3 p.m. Jan. 21 are available through the UCLA Central Ticket Office at (310) 825-2101 or at www.cto.ucla.edu. Prices range from $9 for seniors and students with ID to $15 and $25.