We are very pleased to include all of the Festival's productions in this year's five night visit. Accommodation has been reserved in the perfectly located Inn of the Governors, just steps from the historic Plaza and other attractions in the central area of "The City Different." The boutique hotel, with stylishly renovated rooms, charming garden patio and pool area offers an oasis of calm Southwestern hospitality, and its Del Charro saloon and restaurant provides convenient dining options with bar food served until midnight.

Arrival Information
Commercial airlines arrive in Albuquerque (60 miles) and there is a regular public shuttle bus serving the Santa Fe hotels. In 2008 American, Delta and Southwest plan to add flights directly to the Santa Fe airport, so please check with your favored airlines for the most convenient and cost effective option.

Monday July 28
Optional Pre-Tour Arrivals

Tuesday July 29          Arrival Dinner and Falstaff
Arrive independently at the Inn of the Governors. Please plan to reach Santa Fe by 4:00 pm to permit time to relax before transferring to the O'Keeffe Café for dinner and a brief introductory talk on the evening's opera by tour director and lecturer Desirée Mays. Leave for the Opera House in time for the 8: 30 pm performance of Falstaff (Michaels-Moore, Rutter, Pomponi, Maultsby, Giordano, O'Connor, Reinhardt, Pauley; Arrivabeni). This new production is by Kevin Newbury. Private transfers back to the hotel are included each night.

Wednesday July 30
          Orientation Tour and Adriana Mater with Cantina Buffet
The morning starts with the Inn's full Mountain Sunrise breakfast buffet (included each day) and continues with a guided walking tour led by historian Stefanie Beninato, providing orientation to the noteworthy attractions of the city. In addition, you will receive a four day pass to enable a leisurely exploration of the major museums during the stay. After, the day is free until early evening when the party transfers again to the Opera House grounds and the brand new Cantina for a buffet dinner and pre-performance lecture by Desirée on Saariaho's Adriana Mater (Groop, Freund, Kaiser; Izquierdo). The direction is by Santa Fe regular Peter Sellars and staging is by the renowned Russian set designer George Tsypin.

Thursday July 31          Opera Lectures, Lunch and Billy Budd
The operas Billy Budd and Radamisto are the focus of Desirée's morning lecture, to be followed by lunch at the emblematic Santacafé, with invited guests. The balance of the afternoon and early evening is for personal arrangements. Depart at 7:45 pm for the Opera House and Billy Budd (Tahu Rhodes, Burden, Rose, Stilwell, Nolen, Stephens, Hammons, Jameson; de Waart). Direction is by Paul Curran.

Friday August 1          Allan Houser Excursion and Radamisto
At mid-morning depart with Stephanie Beninato to visit the remarkable compound of Native American artist Allan Houser and soak in the artistic and spiritual atmosphere of this very special place. Continue for an al fresco lunch at Sunrise Springs Resort and Spa before returning mid-afternoon to Santa Fe. Depart again at 7:45 pm for David Alden's new production of Radamisto, a first time performance in Santa Fe and boasting an excellent cast (Daniels, Claycomb, Rice, Stober, Pisaroni; Bicket).

Saturday August 2
  The Marriage of Figaro with Cantina Buffet Enjoy a fully independent day in Santa Fe. In the early evening depart for the pre-performance buffet and lecture, again presented by Desirée. The new Jonathan Kent production of The Marriage of Figaro (Pisaroni, Watts, Phillips, Kwiecien, Leonard, Pegram; Montgomery) starts at 8:30 pm. Return to the hotel for farewell refreshments.

Sunday August 3          Departures
Independent departures.