Sunday, August 12
Upon arrival in Albuquerque Sunport (or Santa Fe Airport) you will be met and transferred to the Inn and Spa at Loretto, our lovely hotel on the Santa Fe Trail, near the Plaza and all central historical sites. This evening we gather for introductions and depart for a Welcome Dinner at La Casa Sena, one of the best kitchens in the city.
Monday, August 13
After breakfast (included each day) we meet our guide, Jerry Rightman, and depart on a private city tour, featuring the historic Santa Fe Plaza, Loretto Chapel and its miraculous staircase, St. Francis Cathedral (where we see the city's 400-year history in its doors), and the Palace of the Governors. Following lunch at leisure, we gather in our private salon at the hotel for a casual and entertaining discussion of our first two performances, led by Oliver Prezant, lecturer at Santa Fe Opera. Oliver's talks are always a highlight of the tour. Afterward, we walk to dinner at the lauded Pasqual's, a Santa Fe institution on the edge of the Plaza. We then depart by private coach to the Santa Fe Opera for our first performance at the Festival, David Alden’s World Premiere staging of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers. Returning after an absence of a decade is French conductor Emmanuel Villaume, most recently music director of the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston. He is a regular guest conductor at Chicago’s Lyric Opera. Nicole Cabell, who was the fiery Musetta in the 2007 production of La Bohème, returns to sing the role of the princess Leila. Her competing love interests, who are also best friends, will be sung by tenor Eric Cutler and baritone Christopher Magiera. Their duet “Au fond du temple saint” is one of the most familiar in all of opera. Bizet was only 24 when he wrote The Pearl Fishers, which was imbued with musical brilliance that predicted what was to come.
Tuesday, August 14
Enjoy the day at leisure in Santa Fe. This evening we depart for the Santa Fe Opera and the company’s first ever performance of Karol Szymanowski’s King Roger. The young American conductor Evan Rogister makes his Santa Fe debut in this production. Mariusz Kwiecien will repeat his role as King Roger in Santa Fe. William Burden, who last appeared in 2008 in Billy Budd, will sing the role of the Shepherd. Erin Morley as Roxana, Dennis Petersen in his debut as Edrisi, and Raymond Aceto as the Archbishop complete the cast. Director Stephen Wadsworth and scenic designer Thomas Lynch collaborated here in 1997 for Peter Lieberson’s Ashoka’s Dream.
Wednesday, August 15
Today we meet Jerry once again and join him for an in depth tour at the Georgia O'Keeffe museum, just off the Plaza, where Jerry is a docent. Following a delicious lunch at La Boca, we will enjoy our second talk with Oliver Prezant, who will provide some insight into the upcoming performances. This evening we return to the Santa Fe Opera for Puccini’s beloved Tosca, one of the most famous and popular operas of the 19th century, consistently listed on everyone's "Top Ten" list. The score is filled with arias, duets, and choruses of great beauty, including the show-stopping aria "Vissi d'arte." Yannis Thavoris, the young Greek designer, will create both the scenic design and the costumes. The director is Stephen Barlow who works regularly at Opera Holland Park. It was there that Amanda Echalaz sang the title role for the first time, and later at Covent Garden. “The young lady everyone is talking about…” said the critic of The Guardian. The American tenor Andrew Richards is Cavaradossi. Tosca marks the Santa Fe Opera debuts of Thavoris, Barlow, Richards and Echalaz and is also Echalaz’s American debut. Thomas Hampson will sing the role of Scarpia. Hampson has appeared in Santa Fe only once, in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale nearly three decades ago. Chief Conductor Frédéric Chaslin will be on the podium.
Thursday, August 16
This morning we gather in the hotel lobby and depart by private coach with Jerry to explore the red rock landscapes of Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch, letting the vivid colors inspire us as they did Georgia O'Keeffe. We will visit her stunningly-set home and studio, and then stop for a late lunch at the excellent Rancho de San Juan. Upon our return, the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. This evening we gather and depart for a performance of Rossini’s Maometto II. This world premiere staging is being overseen by Philip Gossett, one of the world’s leading authorities on the operas of Rossini, and the general editor of Works of Gioachino Rossini. The score is being edited from the original 1820 Naples version, using Rossini’s own autograph manuscript and best available sources. The setting is 15th century Greece at war with Turkish invaders (later, Rossini created a major revision entitled The Siege of Corinth, which is a different opera altogether according to Gossett, not simply a name change). The title role will be taken by Luca Pisaroni. The fast-rising young Italian baritone charmed audiences in Santa Fe as Figaro in 2008 and also as Tiridate in Radamisto that same year. Making her Company debut as Anna, Leah Crocetto was a winner of the 2010 Metropolitan Opera National Auditions. She was also the American candidate at the 2011 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition held in June. Also debuting is the Irish mezzo soprano Patricia Bardon, who is singing the role of Erda in the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of The Ring. She is also widely admired for her interpretation of the Baroque repertory. Bruce Sledge appeared as Count Almaviva in the 2005 production of The Barber of Seville. Stage Director David Alden was here in 2008 for Radamisto. English native Jon Morrell, with whom Alden has worked, is making his company debut as designer of sets and costumes. He has done considerable work in British theater in addition to his work in opera.
Friday, August 17
The final morning is at leisure. Mid-afternoon we gather in the lounge with Oliver for our final opera discussion of the week. This evening we will enjoy a Farewell Dinner at the La Fonda Hotel’s La Plazuela, one of the loveliest dining rooms in town. We then depart for our final performance of the Festival, Richard Strauss’s Arabella. Strauss lovers especially will welcome the opportunity to see Arabella, which has not been seen here since 1997. In the title role will be Erin Wall, who sang Daphne here in 2007, and who portrayed Hoffmann’s four loves in the 2010 production of The Tales of Hoffmann. Strauss wrote a number of great singing roles for women; Arabella is one of his finest. Heidi Stober will be remembered as Musetta in last summer's La bohème. Mark Delavan’s most recent appearance was as Simon Boccanegra in 2004. The American baritone, with a repertory of more than forty roles, has a long list of distinguished opera credits in this country and abroad. Director Tim Albery and scenic and costume designer Tobias Hoheisel will work together again, having created the production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute which was revived in 2010. Sir Andrew Davis conducts.
Saturday, August 18
Private transfer to the airports in Albuquerque or Santa Fe for journeys home.