THE TOUR INCLUDES: 6 nights deluxe accommodations at the deluxe Inn of the Anasazi, across from the Plaza Top category seats for 5 performances Full breakfast daily plus two lunches and two dinners two pre-performance lectures Private tours of Santa Fe and Abiquiu plus an optional tour to Bandelier National Monument airport-hotel transfers On-site tour direction by an Aria Tours representative Cost: $5475 US Single Supplement: $975 US Bandelier excursion: $200 US * includes lunch Deposit: $2500 Balance Due: May 9, 2010

OPTIONS FLIGHTS We will be happy to make any flight arrangements, including reward travel with your preferred carrier, for $75 per person. Return flights should be booked to Albuquerque International Sunport or Santa Fe Municipal Airport. TOUR ADDITIONS The itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and desires. Please call us to discuss any changes or amendments you wish to make. INSURANCE We strongly recommend that all tour members purchase cancellation insurance upon registration. We can assist you with this, though you are welcome to purchase a policy at your own discretion. If you would like information on the policies offered by our supplier, please contact us for details, or click HERE for an insurance brochure and application.

Santa Fe bills itself as “The City Different”, and we suppose it is, but not for the reasons the city would have you believe. True, there are plentiful excellent galleries, restaurants, hotels, high-end gift shops and charming cafés strewn about the city, all with their “unique” brand of local flavour. But this is not so different from any other charming city with a tourist trade. What makes Santa Fe different is how wonderful it feels just being there—something about the magical combination of perfect weather (hot yes, but without the oppressive humidity), breathtaking landscape, charming Southwest architecture and friendly locals, as well as all of the previously-mentioned tourist attractions, that makes it impossible to walk the historic streets of this city without a smile on your face. And the quality of the performances that take place each night at the glorious mesa-top Crosby Theatre, and the quality of the venue itself, is often a surprise to attendees. Sante Fe is one of our favourite cities, and the Santa Fe Festival is one of our favourite, and best, tours—proof that you needn't travel across the globe for a very special opera getaway.

With a population of 70,000 primarily Hispanic, Anglo and Native American people, Santa Fe, which is Spanish for "Holy Faith", is New Mexico's third largest city behind Albuquerque and Las Cruces. Situated at 7,000 feet above sea level in the foothills of the southern Rocky Mountains, it was founded between 1607 and 1610, making it the second oldest city as well as the highest and oldest capital in the U.S. In 2005, Santa Fe became the first U.S. city to be chosen by UNESCO as a Creative City, one of only nine cities in the world to hold this designation. Santa Fe has long been a center for the arts and culture. It now ranks as the country's third largest art market with nearly 300 galleries and dealers. There are also more than a dozen major museums showcasing an array of art, culture, history and traditions, as well as—of course—the world-class Santa Fe Opera. The performance setting is unforgettable—a nearly 360-degree panorama of breathtaking scenery, with the Jemez mountains to the west and the Sangre de Cristos to the east.

We will have top category seats for five performances, stay just steps from the famous Plaza in the heart of the city at its finest hotel (Inn of the Anasazi), and dine at several of the most renowned restaurants in the area. In addition, we will have three very enjoyable, entertaining and enlightening discussions with Oliver Prezant, the Music Director of the Santa Fe Community Orchestra and a lecturer at Santa Fe Opera. Oliver is an engaging and incredibly knowledgeable speaker, and this past year his talks were a highlight of the tour.

THE ITINERARY

Monday, August 9
Flight arrivals in Albuquerque. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Santa Fe and the superb Inn of the Anasazi, located just steps from the Plaza, the cultural and historic heart of the city. After settling in, we gather for introductions and then enjoy a Welcome Dinner at the excellent Anasazi Restaurant in the hotel.

Tuesday, August 10
After breakfast we depart on a guided city tour (private), featuring, amongst other sites the Santa Fe Plaza, Loretto Chapel and its miraculous staircase, St. Francis Cathedral (where we see the city's 400-year history in its doors), San Miguel Mission and Palace of the Governors. We learn how the city's two unique styles of architecture developed, and we cross the Santa Fe Trail. Our guide will point out interesting shops, galleries and restaurants as well as other features many visitors miss. Following lunch (at leisure), we retire to the Library at the hotel for a fun-filled discussion of The Magic Flute and The Tales of Hoffmann with Oliver Prezant. Afterward, we take a short break before making our way to a private dining room at La Casa Sena for a memorable dinner. We then transfer to the Santa Fe Opera for The Magic Flute, Mozart’s timeless masterpiece. Lawrence Renes conducts this popular Tim Albery production, with a cast that includes Ekaterina Siurina, Charles Castronovo, Erin Morley, and Andreas Silvestrelli.

Wednesday, August 11
Enjoy the day at leisure in Santa Fe. We will offer a midday performance at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival if available. This evening we depart once again for the Sante Fe Opera and the debut production (by Christopher Alden) of Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann, conducted by Stephen Lord and featuring a stellar cast that includes Erin Wall, Kate Lindsay, Jill Grove and Paul Groves.

Thursday, August 12
This morning, we gather in the hotel lobby and depart by private coach, crossing the Rio Grande to explore the landscape that inspired Georgia O'Keeffe. We visit O'Keeffe's simple but lovely adobe home and studio in Abiquiu, and then make our way to Taos, stopping first for an elegant lunch at the Relais & Chateau Rancho de San Juan. In Taos, we see the Mabel Dodge Luhan house, the Millicent Rogers Museum, Kit Carson’s home, and the Church of San Francisco de Asis, one of the most photographed churches in the country. Return to Santa Fe at 5pm. This evening we return to the Santa Fe Opera for a world premiere production of Lewis Pratlan’s Life is a Dream, the winner of the 2000 Pulitzer Prize in Music. Conductor Leonard Slatkin and director Kevin Newbury lead a cast that features Ellie Dehn, Roger Honeywell, James Maddalena and John Cheek.

Friday, August 13
Late morning we offer an optional tour to Bandelier National Monument, where we explore the ancient cliff dwellings of the Anasazi. We learn about Indian and Spanish history, the fascinating volcanic geology, and how the atomic age began in this rugged mesa and canyon country. Lunch at the famous El Paragua in Española is included on the return trip. In the late afternoon, we retire to the Library once again for another session with Oliver Prezant. This evening we attend a performance of Britten’s comedy Albert Herring. Fast-rising young tenor Alek Shrader stars in the title role, joined by Christine Brewer as the imperious Lady Billows. This new production is conducted by Sir Andrew Davis and directed by Paul Curran.

Saturday, August 14
Spend your final morning at leisure in Santa Fe. Mid-afternoon we enjoy a Farewell Lunch at the historic Café Pasqual’s. This evening we attend our final performance at Santa Fe Opera, Puccini’s beloved Madama Butterfly. Kelly Kaduce returns as Puccini's heartfelt heroine Cio-Cio-San, joined by Elizabeth DeShong as Suzuki and Brandon Jovanovich as Pinkerton. Antony Walker and Lee Blakeley make their Santa Fe debuts as conductor and stage director.

Sunday, August 15
Departure to Albuquerque International Sunport or Santa Fe Municipal Airport is included.